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The milk-ejection reflex of the rat: a 20-to 40-fold acceleration in the firing of paraventricular neurones during oxytocin release
Abstract
SUMMARY Antidromically-identified paraventricular (PV) neurones were studied in the anaesthetized rat during milk ejection (ME) evoked by the natural stimulus provided by the suckling young. An intermittent pattern of ME was observed, though the ME interval was slightly longer (10–20 min) in the doe during unit recording than in unoperated or conscious animals (5–15 min). PV neurones displayed a steady background of spike discharge in both the non-lactating rat and lactating rat during suckling. The firing rates ranged from 0 to 9·4 spikes/s and were exponentially distributed with 32% of the units firing at <1 spike/s. Phasic patterns of discharge were seen in 18% of the units. Fifty-eight per cent of the PV units displayed a stereotyped and explosive acceleration in spike activity some 15–20 s before the rise in intramammary pressure at ME. The peak firing rate during this brief (2–4 s) response was in the range of 24–84 spikes/s. A prominent after-inhibition was then displayed by these responsive units, though this second component of the response was variable in duration (7–56 s). The electrical activity of the remaining units, including all the cells with phasic discharge, was not correlated with ME. There was no apparent change in the intensity of the suckling stimulus at the time of PV activation, i.e. 15–20 s before ME. Secondly, the activity of the PV neurones was not influenced by the rise in the intramammary pressure and the increased sucking of the pups at the time of ME. Simulation of an individual ME was obtained with both 1 mu. exogenous oxytocin, i.v., and electrical stimulation of the neurohypophysis (50 pulses/s for 4 s). The latencies to ME ranged from 7–14 s and 11–23 s, respectively. In conclusion, an explosive increase in the electrical activity of PV neurones precipitates the release of oxytocin at ME.
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“Oxytocin is a mammalian neurohormone composed of nine amino acids, known for its peripheral effects on parturition and lactation (5–7), as well as its central neuromodulatory effects on social behaviors such as affiliative, aggressive, and parental behaviors (8, 9).”
From Oxytocin during Development: Possible Organizational Effects on Behavior (2015) · cites this paper as [6]
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Items 301–326 of 326
Oxytocin in Lactation and Parturition
Leng, G. (2024) · Masterclass in neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-51138-7_6 · Cited by 2
Ohbuchi, T., & Ueta, Y. (2014) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118606803.ch6 · Cited by 1
Pharmacology of hypothalamic neurones
Kelly, J. S., & Renaud, L. P. (1978) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-349-03506-9_4 · Cited by 1
The Neurophysiology of Hypothalamic-Pituitary Regulation and of Hypothalamic Hormones in Brain
Renaud, L. P. (1984) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-011-7674-3_5 · Cited by 1
Hatton, G. I. (1984) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4684-4583-1_14 · Cited by 8
Canady, K. S., Hyson, R. L., & Rubel, E. W. (1994)
Carbon dioxide decreases the intracellular potassium activity in frog muscle [proceedings].
Huguenin, F., & Zeuthen, T. (1979) · PubMed Central
Modeling the Milk‐Ejection Reflex
Leng, G., & Feng, J. (2016) · doi:10.1002/9781119159438.ch7
Neurotransmitter and neuropeptide control of hypothalamic, pituitary and other hormones
Wilkinson, M., & Brown, R. E. (2015) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781139045803.007
Bhumbra, G. S., Dyball, R. E. J., Ueta, Y., & Yamashita, H. (2016) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-803592-4.00059-6
Integrating Network and Intrinsic Changes in GnRH Neuron Control of Ovulation
Adams, C. E. (2018) · Deep Blue (University of Michigan)
Birbaumer, N., & Schmidt, R. F. (2003) · Springer-Lehrbuch · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-00789-1_6
Wuttke, W. (2000) · Springer-Lehrbuch · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-09346-7_20
Birbaumer, N., & Schmidt, R. F. (2003) · Springer-Lehrbuch · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-00789-1_5
Wuttke, W. (1993) · Springer-Lehrbuch · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-87854-1_17
Wuttke, W. (1997) · Springer-Lehrbuch · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-00485-2_20
Birbaumer, N., & Schmidt, R. F. (1999) · Springer-Lehrbuch · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-06097-1_6
Wuttke, W. (1993) · Springer-Lehrbuch · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-09336-8_17
Krstić, R. V. (1984) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-51596-5_19
Maternity: Oxytocin circuits during birth and lactation
Maier, E., & Brecht, M. (2022) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.051
Comment, au fil du temps, l’ocytocine est devenue l’hormone de l’attachement
Freund‐Mercier, M. J. (2022) · Biologie Aujourd hui · doi:10.1051/jbio/2022014
Mechanisms of intrinsic osmolality and sodium detection by magnocellular neurosecretory neurons
Salgado‐Mozo, S., Murtaz, A., Wyrosdic, J. C., O'Reilly‐Fong, J., Zaelzer, C. A., LaPierre, M. P., & Bourque, C. W. (2025) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/jne.70091
“36 It is important to note that in addition to its classical role as a mediator of parturition 37 and lactation 38,39 in mammals, oxytocin release into the bloodstream of rats can stimulate natriuresis in rats.”
Ludwig, M., Leng, G., & Brown, C. H. (2026) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/jne.70177
“6,7 However, Dreifuss and Kelly described a transpharyngeal surgical approach to record from the supraoptic nucleus, 8 and their approach was subsequently modified by Leng, who first used it to test the intrinsic osmosensitivity of supraoptic neurones by using a ‘ microtap ’ to apply tiny amounts…”
Tracing the impact of electrophysiological studies of magnocellular neurons
Leng, G., Ludwig, M., & Leng, R. (2026) · Progress in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2026.102932
Decoding the Oxytocinergic and Behavioral Signatures of Milk Ejection
Xiao, W., Zheng, Q., Wang, Y., Yuan, Y., Chen, Y., Zheng, T., Chen, Y., Gao, Y., Song, B., Zhang, B., et al. (2026) · Neuroscience Bulletin · doi:10.1007/s12264-026-01679-2
Brain, Breast, and Gonads: A Passage in Neuroendocrinology
Cross, B. (1978) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-4027-0_6
Metadata
- Authors
- WAKERLEY, J. B., & LINCOLN, D. W.
- Venue
- Journal of Endocrinology
- Publisher
- Bioscientifica
- Published
- 1973-06-01
- Volume
- 57
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 477-493
- ISSN
- 0022-0795 (ISSN-L)
- 1479-6805
- OpenAlex
- W2053881206
- Cited by
- 327
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 28.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- milk ejection reflex, oxytocin release, neuronal firing rate, suckling stimulus, intramammary pressure, lactation
- MeSH terms
- Action Potentials, Ethanol, Animals, Female, Hypothalamus, Lactation, Mammary Glands, Animal, Microelectrodes, Micromanipulation, Neurons, Oxytocin, Pituitary Gland, Pregnancy, Pressure, Reflex, Sucking Behavior, Urethane, Rats
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