THE MAINTENANCE OF LACTATION IN THE RABBIT AFTER HYPOPHYSECTOMY

Abstract

SUMMARY Twenty-one rabbits were hypophysectomized during the second week of lactation. Hypophysectomy inhibited milk secretion within 3–7 days. Restoration of the milk yield to pre-operative levels was obtained when daily injections of either sheep prolactin (50 or 100 i.u.) or human growth hormone (HGH) (2·5 or 5 mg.) were administered; partial recovery of the milk yield was obtained with 25 i.u. sheep prolactin/day or 1·25 mg. HGH/day. Neither bovine growth hormone (BGH), adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) nor cortisol acetate had any significant restorative effects on milk secretion or synergistic effects when combined with sheep prolactin or HGH. The probable development of immune responses to sheep prolactin and HGH was observed. After hypophysectomy, changes in milk composition were found which were similar in trend to the more gradual normal changes observed in late lactation. Sheep prolactin and HGH restored the composition of the milk as well as the yields to normal levels, and both hormones caused rapid increases in lactose yields. The pigeon crop-stimulating potency of the HGH preparation was low (equivalent to 3·7 i.u. sheep prolactin/mg.), yet its lactogenic and galactopoietic potencies were high thus emphasizing the unreliability of assessing the mammotrophic potencies of HGH preparations in birds.