The effects of administration of prolactin, progesterone or concurrent pregnancy on the mammary involution occurring in the ligated side and on lactational function in the unligated side were examined in the mouse undergoing the unilateral ligature of nipples.
The administration of 20 I. U. prolactin or 1mg progesterone daily for 6 days could retard the involution in the sense that alveolar integrity is still preserved despite of the relatively small amount of parenchyma, whereas alveolar structure and cell boundaries could hardly be defined in the non-treated control.
Concurrent pregnancy retarded the involution markedly and section showed the essentially similar appearance to that at the latter part of pregnancy or shortly before parturition.
However, the suggestion that the removal of milk may be responsible for maintaining the mammary gland in a full lactational state was made from the results of histological observations and respiratory activity. And further the hormonal balance for mammary growth and lactation was discussed in connection with the removal of milk.
Progesterone alone did not inhibit the respiratory activity. The effect of pregnancy on lactation should be await further investigation in connection with the hormonal levels circulating in pregnant animal, which may vary according to the fetus numbers and its developmental stage in relation to delay of implantation.
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