Psychobiological Aspects of Lactation in Rats

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This chapter focuses on the lactating female rat's responsiveness to stress and diurnal rhythm in pituitary-adrenal activity and in behavior, functions that are regulated in part by hypothalamic mechanisms. The psychobiology of the postpartum rat is studied most extensively with respect to maternal behavior. Care of the offspring and lactation are dramatic and demanding states entailing numerous behavioral and physiological changes, but only the principal changes are studied in detail. Alterations in the neuroendocrine function of the pituitary–adrenal system are observed during lactation. The pronounced circadian rhythm in plasma corticosterone level in rats is almost obliterated by lactation. It was found that ovarian progesterone does not play a role in these changes during lactation and that the state of lactation protects the female from the effects of estrogen on pituitary-adrenal activity It is possible that prolactin plays a significant role in the observed alterations in neuroendocrine function.

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