Detailed analysis of blood oxytocin levels during suckling and parturition in the rat
Abstract
A detailed secretory profile of oxytocin during suckling and parturition was determined in unanaesthetized freely moving rats. Ten pups were reunited with their mothers after 12–15 h of separation. Unless the milk-ejection reflex occurred, there was no difference in serum oxytocin levels before separation and during the suckling of either four or five, or nine or ten pups. Serum oxytocin levels increased abruptly by 50·1 ± 4·2 (s.e.m.) pmol/l (n = 9) at milk ejection, and declined rapidly with a half-life of about 1·5 min. The peak concentration of blood oxytocin at each milk ejection was independent of the previous suckling period; values from the first three milk-ejection reflexes following the introduction of the pups and those observed 3–5 h after introduction were similar. The process of parturition was monitored by recording intra-uterine pressure with a balloon implanted in the uterus. On day 22 or 23 of pregnancy, continuous and rhythmical contractions of the uterus occurred (onset of parturition), but serum levels of oxytocin (21·1 ± 1·9 pmol/l; n = 13) did not alter until the expulsive phase. During the expulsive phase, fetuses were delivered after fetus-expulsion reflexes which were recorded as sudden large increases in intra-uterine pressure. Basal levels of oxytocin in the blood increased during this phase (32·5 ± 4·4 pmol/l; n = 13) and, in addition, rose by about 15 pmol/l and declined slowly after fetus-expulsion reflexes. The increase, however, was quite different from that seen at milk-ejection reflexes. J. Endocr. (1986) 110, 251–256
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Higuchi et al. developed a radioimmunoassay that allowed oxytocin to be measured in unextracted rat plasma, and during suckling-induced milk let-down plasma concentrations rose from 16.5 pg/ml to approximately 65 pg/ml, declining with a half-life of approximately 1.5 min.
“Higuchi et al. 68 developed a radioimmunoassay that allowed oxytocin to be measured in unextracted rat plasma, and took samples at the time of suckling‐induced milk let‐down, as recognised by stretching movements of the suckling pups. Plasma concentrations rose from 16.5 pg/ml to approximately 65 pg/ml, and declined with a half‐life of approximately 1.5 min.”
From Measuring Oxytocin and Vasopressin: Bioassays, Immunoassays and Random Numbers (2016) · cites this paper as [68]
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Measuring Oxytocin and Vasopressin: Bioassays, Immunoassays and Random Numbers
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“(68) developed a radioimmunoassay that allowed oxytocin to be measured in unextracted rat plasma, and took samples at the time of suckling-induced milk let-down, as recognised by stretching movements of the suckling pups.”
BackgroundSabatier, N., Caquineau, C., Dayanithi, G., Bull, P., Douglas, A. J., Guan, X. M. M., Jiang, M., Van der Ploeg, L., & Leng, G. (2003) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.23-32-10351.2003 · Cited by 190 · see citing works
Russell, J. A., Douglas, A. J., & Ingram, C. D. (2001) · Progress in brain research · doi:10.1016/s0079-6123(01)33002-9 · Cited by 187 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Higuchi, T., Tadokoro, Y., Honda, K., & Negoro, H.
- ORCID
- Higuchi, T.
- Venue
- Journal of Endocrinology
- Publisher
- Bioscientifica
- Published
- 1986-08-01
- Volume
- 110
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 251-256
- ISSN
- 0022-0795 (ISSN-L)
- 1479-6805
- OpenAlex
- W2115138621
- Cited by
- 137
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 6.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Keywords
- oxytocin, suckling, childbirth, milk ejection reflex, uterine contraction, rats
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animals, Suckling, Female, Labor, Obstetric, Lactation, Litter Size, Milk Ejection, Oxytocin, Pregnancy, Pregnancy, Animal, Rats, Inbred Strains, Uterine Contraction, Rats
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