The role of decreased prolactin by dioxin in nursing behavior and maternal lactation suppression in female offspring

Abstract

We have suggested that the suppression by dioxin of prolactin level was inherited by next generation females. To confirm its toxicological significance, we measured the licking, a nursing behavior and the amount of breast milk produced by the next generations F1 and F2 female during breastfeeding. We found that maternal exposure to TCDD reduces milk amount significantly in F2. Similarly, that in F1 tends to be reduced. Thus, maternal exposure to TCDD reduces decreases prolactin level in the offspring, which in turn causes heritable toxicity such as the nursing behavior and the breast milk level in the offspring.