Abstract
The blood pressure (BT) and the heart rate (HR) during lactation in rats were measured by an indirect tail-caff method. The plasma osmotic pressure and hemotocrit (Ht) values were also measured as factors affecting the viscosity resistance of blood. Two groups were assigned in this study, i. e., (1) lactating group in which the litter size was adjusted to twelve pups at parturition and (2) control group in which the litter was removed from dams following parturition. The experiments were carried out on days 3, 5, 7, 10, 13 and 18 of lactation. The day of parturition was designated as day 0 of lactation. As a result, no noticeable changes in BP and HR were recognized between lactating and control groups. Ht (except for day 5) and plasma osmotic pressure (day 5 and after day 10) of the lactating group was significantly lower than those of control group through the lactation days.