These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Role of pup age, estradiol-17 beta and pituitary responsiveness in the differences in the suckling-induced prolactin response during early and late lactation.
    Author: Selmanoff M, Selmanoff C.
    Journal: Biol Reprod; 1983 Sep; 29(2):400-11. PubMed ID: 6416313.
    Abstract:
    The suckling-induced prolactin (Prl) response was studied in 10- and 20-day postpartum female rats. The response in 20-day postpartum mothers has a slower onset, has markedly reduced peak values and returns to baseline somewhat sooner than the response in 10-day postpartum mothers. The blunted response of late lactation was seen in mothers suckled for 30 min and was maintained over a longer interval in mothers continuously suckled for 120 min. This refractory phenomenon was not due to decreased suckling intensity provided by 20-day relative to 10-day-old pups. Pituitary gland Prl release in response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and haloperidol challenges also did not distinguish 10- from 20-day postpartum mothers. Significantly higher estradiol-17 beta levels were found in 20-day compared with 10-day postpartum mothers, a finding which cannot account for the blunted response. Pup separation from 10-day postpartum mothers for 4, 24, 48 or 72 h did not produce a blunted response like that seen in late lactation. It is suggested that the hypothalamic mechanism mediating suckling-induced Prl release becomes refractory to the suckling stimulus during the preweaning period.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]