Effects of growth hormone on lactation and body growth of parturient rats.

Abstract

SummaryTwenty mature female albino rats which had reached growth stasis were bred, and on the day of parturition their litters were reduced to 6 young each. On the 5th postpartum day 10 rats were injected with 1 mg GH daily for 12 days and the other 10 rats served as controls. The GH-injected rats gained an average of 2 g each daily during the experimental period whereas the controls showed no increase in body weight. The growth rate of the litters was the same in both groups, indicating that GH did not increase milk production. This contrasts with the demonstrated ability of GH to increase milk production in cattle, sheep and goats.