Abstract
SummaryThoracic teats of rats were ligated and litters were adjusted to 2 or 6 pups on day 2 of lactation. Rats were constantly with their litters until day 7 of lactation when they were subjected to: (i) continued suckling; (ii) 12.5 hr nonsuckling; or (iii) 12.0 hr nonsuckling then 0.5 hr suckling.Plasma corticosterone (μg/100 ml) of rats suckling 2 or 6 pups was 23.83 and 29.31, respectively, when litters suckled continuously. It was reduced to 19.75 and 20.15, respectively, following 12.5 hr of nonsuckling. Following 12 hr nonsuckling, 0.5 hr of suckling increased plasma corticosterone to 39.44 and 70.01 μg/100 ml in rats with 2 and 6 pups, respectively. Corticosterone released in response to suckling appeared to be related to intensity of the suckling stimulus.Rats suckling 6 pups had more mammary ribonucleic acid (RNA), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and a greater RNA/DNA ratio than rats with 2 pups. Mammary gland RNA and RNA/DNA ratio decreased after 12.5 hr nonsuckling and mammary weight increased 8...
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N.Y.)
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
