help button home button Endocrine Society Endocrinology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Yogev, L.
Right arrow Articles by Terkel, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Yogev, L.
Right arrow Articles by Terkel, J.

Endocrinology, Vol 110, 158-162, Copyright © 1982 by Endocrine Society


ARTICLES

Endogenous inhibition of prolactin secretion in pregnant lactating rats

L Yogev and J Terkel

The purpose of the present study was to test whether rat placental lactogen, proposed to be inhibitory for endogenous rhythmic PRL secretion during pregnancy, is also inhibitory for a neurally mediated PRL response to exogenous stimulation, i.e. suckling. Pregnant lactating rats were used as the model in this study. Blood samples for PRL were taken via a chronic atrial cannula before and after 30 min of suckling stimulation in the following groups of females: 1) bearing conceptuses of different degrees of development; 2) after removal of conceptuses; and 3) after injection of placental extract immediately before exposure to suckling stimulation. It was found that 1) the PRL response to suckling diminished in conjunction with placental development and the known concomitant rise in rat placental lactogen; 2) removal of the conceptuses permits elevation of PRL after suckling stimulation; and 3) injection of placental extract obtained on days 11- 12 of pregnancy failed to block the elevation of PRL in response to suckling. It was concluded that 1) lactation can be maintained even in the presence of very low levels of PRL, provided developed placentae are present, and 2) the developed placentae are capable of inhibiting the acute PRL release in response to exogenous stimulation as well as endogenous rhythmic PRL secretion.





HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1982 by The Endocrine Society