ACTH initiation of mammary secretion in pregnant goats is influenced by the stage of gestation and pre partum milking.
Pregnant goats were treated with ACTH by intramuscular injection (1 mg/d for 2 d) at various stages of pregnancy to investigate its effect on initiation of mammary secretion. ACTH stimulated lactose secretion and increased udder volume at or after 84 d of gestation, when compared with untreated controls. Treatment with ACTH between d 109 and 127 of gestation increased circulating plasma glucose concentration, mammary blood flow and mammary uptake of glucose which returned to pre injection levels 6 d after treatment. Arterial concentrations of progesterone were not affected by ACTH but mammary progesterone uptake increased 2-fold. Pre partum milking alone stimulated mammary secretion in eight of 13 goats. Subsequent treatment with ACTH resulted in no further change in the composition of the secretion but increase in yield was maintained. ACTH stimulated mammary secretion in those goats which did not respond to pre partum milking. It was concluded that ACTH initiated mammary secretion in pregnant goats by mechanisms which interact with the stimulation of milking but which are independent of circulating progesterone levels.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000502:physiology*; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone