Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Progesterone withdrawal as the lactogenic trigger in the rat

  • Published:
Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Lactogenesis, as indicated by the appearance of mammary lactose, follows ovariectomy and/or hysterectomy and the fall in the concentration of progesterone in the plasma preceding normal parturition in the pregnant rat. It is suppressed by administered progesterone in all cases, and by prolactin after hysterectomy.

The natural lactogenic signal may occur 30 hr. before parturition, due to conversion of progesterone to 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one in the ovaries. Changes in the concentration of corticosterone, oestrogen and prolactin in the plasma either do not occur or do not constitute a lactogenic signal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abraham, S., Cady, P. & Chaikoff, I. L. (1960). Glucose and acetate metabolism and lipogenesis in mammary glands of hypophysectomised rats in which lactation was hormonally induced. Endocrinology 66, 280–288.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, W. M. (1932). The preparation of purified progestin. J. biol. Chem. 98, 591–605.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Astwood, E. B. & Greep, R. O. (1938). A corpus luteum-stimulating substance in the rat placenta. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 38, 713–716.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baar, S. & Bull, J. P. (1953). Salt interference in sugar chromatography of urine. Nature, Lond. 172, 414–415.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bintarningsih, Lyons, W. R., Johnson, R. E. & Li, C. H. (1958). Hormonally-induced lactation hypophysectomised rats. Endocrinology 63, 540–548.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burton, K. (1956). A study of the conditions and mechnism of the diphenylamine reaction for the colorimetric estimation of deoxyribonucleic acid. Biochem. J. 62, 315.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burton, R. B., Zaffaroni, A. & Keutmann, E. H. (1951). Paper chromatography of steroids. J. Biol. Chem. 188, 763–771.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bush, I. E. (1953). Species differences in adrenocortical secretion. J. Endocr. 9, 95–100.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bush, I. E. (1961). The chromatography of steroids. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chadwick, A. (1962). The onset of lactose synthesis after injection of prolactin. Biochem. J. 85, 554–558.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Collip, J. B., Selye, H. & Thomson, D. L. (1933). Further observation on the effect of hypophysectomy on lactation. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 30, 913.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowie, A. T. (1961). The hormonal control of milk secretion. In Milk: The mammary gland and its secretion, vol. I, pp. 163–203. Eds. S. K. Kon and A. T. Cowie. London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deis, R. P. (1968). Oxytocin test to demonstrate the initiation and end of lactation in rats. J. Endocr. 40, 133–134.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Desclin, L. (1952). Recherches sur le déterminisme des phénomènes de sécrétion dans la glande mammaire du rat. Annis Endocr. 13, 120–136.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eto, T., Masuda, H., Suzuki, Y. & Hosi, T. (1962). Progesterone and pregn-4-ene-20α-ol-3-one in rat ovarian venous blood at different stages in reproductive cycle. Jap. J. Anim. Reprod. 8, 34–40.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, H. M., Simpson, M. E. & Lyons, W. R. (1941). Influence of lactogenic preparations on production of traumatic placentoma in the rat. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 46, 586–590.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fajer, A. B. & Barraclough, C. A. (1967). Ovarian secretion of progesterone and 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one during pseudo-pregnancy and pregnancy in rats. Endocrinology 81, 617–622.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Folley, S. J. (1942). Non-effect of massive doses of progesterone and desoxycorticosterone on lactation. Nature, Lond. 150, 266.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Folley, S. J. (1952). Lactation. In Marshall’s physiology of reproduction, vol. II, chap. 20, pp. 525–647. Ed. A. S. Parkes. London: Longmans, Green & Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folley, S. J. (1956). The physiology and biochemistry of lactation, chap. II, pp. 34–44. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folley, S. J. (1948). Hormonal control of lactation. In The hormones, vol. I, pp. 745–804. Eds. G. Pincus and K. V. Thimann. New York: Academic Press, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folley, S. J. & Young, F. G. (1941). Prolactin as a specific lactogenic hormone. Lancet 240, 380–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gala, R. R. & Westphal, U. (1965). Corticosteroid-binding globulin in the rat: possible role in the initiation of lactation. Endocrinology 76, 1079–1088.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glock, G. E. & Mclean, P. (1954). Levels of enzymes of the direct oxidative pathway of carbohydrate metabolism in mammalian tissues and tumours. Biochem. J. 56, 171–175.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenwald, G. S. (1967). Luteotropic complex of the hamster. Endocrinology 80, 118–130.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, K. & Glick, D. (1966). Determination of the 11β-hydroxylase activity in microgram samples of tissue; its quantitative histological distribution in the rat adrenal, and the influence of corticotrophin. J. Endocr. 35, 1–12.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grota, L. J. & Eik-Nes, K. B. (1967). Plasma progesterone concentrations during pregnancy and lactation in the rat. J. Reprod. Fert. 13, 83–91.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guillemin, R., Dear, W. E. & Liebelt, R. A. (1959). Nychthemeral variations in plasma free corticosteroid levels of the rat. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 101, 394–395.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halban, J. (1905). Die innere Secretion von Ovarium und Placenta und ihre Bedeutung für die Function der Milchdrüsen. Arch. Gynaek. 75, 353-441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hashimoto, I., Hendricks, D. M., Anderson, L. L. & Melampy, R. M. (1968). Progesterone and pregn-4-en-20α-ol-3-one in ovarian venous blood during various reproductive states in the rat. Endocrinology 82, 333–341.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heap, R. B. (1964). A flourescence assay of progesterone. J. Endocr. 30, 293.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hugget, A. St. G. & Nixon, D. A. (1957). Enzymic determination of blood glucose. Biochem. J. 66, 12P.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, M. & Mayer, G. (1942). Maintein de l’état gestatif de l’ovaire après ablation de l’utérus gravide, par des injections de l’oestrogène chez la rate. C. r. Soc. Phys. Biol. Fr. in Arch. Phys. biol. 16, 42–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, N. J. (1968). Lactogenesis in the rat. Metabolism of uridine diphosphate galactose by mammary gland. Biochem. J. 106, 743–748.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, N. J. & Lowenstein, J. M. (1967). Lactogenesis in the rat. Changes in metabolic parameters at parturition. Biochem. J. 105, 995–1002.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Long, J. A. & Evans, H. M. (1922). The oestrous in the rat and its associated phenomena. Memoirs of the University of California, vol. 6, chap. V, pp. 17–50. Ed. A. O. Leuschner. Berkeley, California: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, W. R., Li, C. H. & Johnson, R. E. (1958). The hormonal control of mammary growth and lactation. Recent Prog. Horm. Res. 14, 219–248.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, W. R., Li, C. H., Johnson, R. E., & Cole, R. D. (1953). Evidence for progestogen secretion by ACTH-stimulated adrenals. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 84, 356–358.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, J. L., Corley, R. C. & Zarrow, M. X. (1960). Diurnal rhythm in plasma corticosterone and lack of diurnal rhythm in plasma compound F-like material in the rat. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 104, 787–789.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marker, B. E., Crooks, H. M., & Wittbecker, E. L. (1941). The action of selenious acid on Δ5-pregnenediol and on Δ5-androstenediol. J. Am. Chem Soc. 63, 777–779.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, G. (1956). Mécanismes de la lactogénèse. Annals Endocr. 17, 526–537.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meites, J. (1954). Recent studies on the mechanisms controlling the initiation of lactation. Revue. can. Biol. 13, 359–376.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meites, J. (1956). Le déclenchment de la lactation au moment de la parturition. Annls Endocr. 17, 519–525.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meites, J. & Nicoll, C. S. (1966). Adenohypophysis: prolactin. A. Rev. Physiol. 28, 57–88.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meites, J. & Sgouris, J. T. (1954). Effects of altering the balance between prolactin and obarian hormoneson initiation of lactation in rabbits. Endocrinology 5, 530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meites, J. & Shelesnyak, M. C. (1957). Effects of prolactin on duration of pregnancy, viability of young and lactation in rats. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 94, 746–749.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meites, J. & Turner, C. W. (1942a). Studies concerning the mechanism controlling the initiation of lactation at parturition. Can estrogen suppress the lactogenic hormone of the pituitary? Endocrinology 30, 711–718.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meites, J. & Turner, C. W. (1942b). Studies concerning the mechanism controlling the initiation of lactation at parturition. Why lactation is not initiated during pregnancy. Endocrinology 30, 719–725.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meites, J. & Turner, C. W. (1942c). Studies concerning the mechanism controlling the initiation of lactation at parturition. Can estrogen account for the precipitous increase in the lactogen content of the pituitary following parturition? Endocrinology 30, 726–733.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nandi, S. & Bern, H. A. (1961). The hormones responsible for lactogenesis in BALB/cCrgl mice. Gen. comp. Endcr. 1, 195–210.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, W. O. (1934). Studies on the physiology of lactation. The reciprocal hypophyseal-ovarian relationship as a factor in the control of lactation. Endocrinology 18, 33–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, W. O. (1936). Endocrine control of the mammary gland. Physiol. Rev. 16, 488–526.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, W. O., Pfiffner, J. J. & Heterius, H. O. (1930). The prolongation of pregnancy by extracts of corpus leteum. Am. J. Physiol. 91, 690–695.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Newton, W. H. & Richardson, K. C. (1940). The secretion of milk in hypophysectomised pregnant mice. J. Endoc. 2, 322–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pecharz, R. I. & Lyons, W. R. (1934). Hypophysectomy in the pregnant guinea pig. Proc. Soc. exp. Boil. Med. 31, 1131–1132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, W. E. (1944). Lactation. Physiol. Rev. 24, 340–371.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Selye, H., Collip, J. B. & Thomson, D. L. (1934). Nervous and hormonal factors in lactation. Endocrinology 18, 237–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shinde, Y., Ôta, K. & Yokoyama, A. (1964). Lactose content of mammary glands of pregnant rats near term: effect of removal of ovary, placenta and foetus. J. Endocr. 31, 105–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stockdale, F. E. & Topper, Y. J. (1966). The role of DNA synthesis and mitosis in hormone-dependent differentiation. Proc. natn Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 56, 1283–1289.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stucki, J. C. & Forbes, A. D. (1960). Pregnancy maintanance and the inhibition of parturition in rats with 17α-hydroxyprogesterone esters: the role of oestrogenic and androgenic activity. Acta. endocr., Copenh. 33, 73–80.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Talwalker, P. K., Nicoll, C. S. & Meites, J. (1961). Induction of mammary secretion in pregnant rats and rabbits by hydrocortisone acetate. Endocrinology 69, 802–808.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turkington, R. W. (1968). Hormone-induced synthesis of DNA by mammary gland in vitro. Endocrinology 82, 540–546.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vogel, A. I. (1951). A textbook of practical organic chemistry, 2nd edn., chap. 3, p. 442. London: Longmans, Green and Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheelock, J. V. & Rook, J. A. F. (1966). Lactose in blood and urine of cows. J. Diary Res. 33, 37–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whistler, R. L. & Durso, D. F. (1950). Chromatographic separation of sugars on charcoal. J. Am. chem. Soc. 72, 677–679.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wiest, W. G. (1959). Conversion of progesterone to 4-pregnen-20α-ol-3-one by rat ovarian tissue in vitro. J. biol. Chem. 234, 3115–3121.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wiest, W. G., Kidwell, W. R. & Balogh, K. (1968). Progesterone catabolism in the rat ovary: a regulatory mechanism for progestational potency during pregnancy. Endocrinology 82, 844–859.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. N. J. Kuhn

    Present address: Biochemistry Department, Agricultural Research Council Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, Cambridge, England

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass., U.S.A.

    N. J. Kuhn

Authors
  1. N. J. Kuhn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kuhn, N.J. Progesterone withdrawal as the lactogenic trigger in the rat. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 14, 327–342 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-009-9144-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-009-9144-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation