title: Potentiation of lactation-induced oxytocin secretion by intracerebroventricular oxytocin in the conscious goat.
abstract: The release of oxytocin into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of lactating goats was studied following implantation of cisternal and lateral ventricular cannulae. Hand milking was associated with a significant increase in plasma concentrations of oxytocin, but no change in plasma concentrations of vasopressin or CSF concentrations of oxytocin. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of oxytocin itself (1 pmol/min for 60 min) had no effect on basal plasma levels of oxytocin. It did, however, markedly potentiate the milking-induced increase in plasma oxytocin above the levels achieved during i.c.v. infusion of artificial CSF alone. In the goat, therefore, milking results in a selective release of oxytocin into the plasma, and this release can be potentiated by the presence of increased concentrations of oxytocin in the CSF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, Westminster Hospital, London.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Seckl
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lightman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014667:Vasopressins; D010121:Oxytocin