Abstract
WHILE there have appeared in the literature numerous reports on the relation of the thyroid gland to lactation, few of these have been concerned with the relationship of the mammary gland structure and the thyroid. That the thyroid is not essential for function of the mammary glands was shown by Nelson and Tobin (1), who reported that rats, thyroidectomized prior to or during pregnancy, were able to give birth to and raise normal litters. Most of the other workers, however, have found that thyroidectomy interferes with the normal mammary function (2–5). Weichert, Boyd and Cohen (6) reported marked stimulation of the mammary glands, but without lobule formation, in rats made pseudopregnant by thyroid feeding. In normal pregnant rats, Weichert and Boyd (7) showed that induced hyperthyroidism resulted in marked mammary stimulation and the appearance of secretion in the alveoli at a period earlier than it would normally occur.
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 call
