Abstract
SummaryMilk secretion in the six abdominal mammary glands of lactating rats was assessed after spinal cord transection at T-11 and after prolactin replacement, to further define the role of somatic sensory pathways in the suckling-induced release of prolactin. The six pectoral mammary glands were rendered nonfunctional by ligation of the main milk ducts on postpartum day 2. Somatic sensory denervation of the 6 abdominal mammary glands was accomplished on day 10–11. Each mother nursed 6 young. The growth of litters of cord-transected lactating rats was greatly reduced in comparison to that of sham-operated rats. Prolactin (17 IU) plus oxytocin (1 IU) 3 × daily resulted in significant improvement in litter growth and in food and water intake of the mothers in comparison with oxytocin-injected control rats, but was without detectable effect upon the loss in maternal body weight which follows spinal cord transection. Litter growth following prolactin treatment was less than that of sham-operated rats. Prolact...
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Schedule a callMore From: Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N.Y.)
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