Original communication
Oxytocin and milk ejection

https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(54)90261-6Get rights and content

Abstract

  • 1.

    1. Oxytocin isolated from the posterior pituitary gland free of any detectable amount of vasopressin and by available physical and chemical criteria essentially a pure chemical compound has milk-ejection activity in recently parturient women who have milk in their breasts.

  • 2.

    2. A synthetic octapeptide amide, in so far as has been tested, indistinguishable from naturally occurring oxytocin in other properties, has milk-ejection activity in similar puerperal women indistinguishable from the naturally occurring oxytocin, thus affording conclusive proof that oxytocin has both oxytocic and milk-ejection activities inherent in its molecular structure.

  • 3.

    3. Milk ejection occurs consistently in these women when approximately 0.5 unit of oxytocin is administered intravenously, or when 2 units of oxytocin are administered intramuscularly.

References (23)

  • F. Ely et al.

    J. Dairy Sc

    (1941)
  • A.H. Livermore et al.

    J. Biol. Chem

    (1949)
  • M. Newton et al.

    J. Pediat

    (1948)
  • M. Newton et al.

    Am. J. Obst. & Gynec

    (1951)
  • J.G. Pierce et al.

    J. Biol. Chem

    (1952)
  • C.W. Turner et al.

    J. Dairy Sc

    (1930)
  • R.A. Turner et al.

    J. Biol. Chem

    (1951)
  • V. du Vigneaud et al.

    J. Biol. Chem

    (1953)
  • H.K. Waller

    Lancet

    (1943)
  • B.A. Cross et al.

    J. Endocrinol

    (1953)
  • S.J. Folley

    Brit. M. Bull

    (1947)
  • Cited by (23)

    • Oxytocin preprotein and oxytocin receptor mRNA expression is altered in semen samples with abnormal semen parameters

      2023, Reproductive BioMedicine Online
      Citation Excerpt :

      It acts mainly through the oxytocin receptor (OTR), a seven transmembrane-domain polypeptide belonging to the rhodopsin-type class 1 G-protein coupled receptor family (Kimura et al., 1992). Oxytocin was initially characterized as a ‘female’ hormone owing to its crucial role in parturition (Dale, 1906), milk ejection during lactation (Nickerson et al., 1954) and sexual activity (Anderson-Hunt and Dennerstein, 1995). It is now well established, however, that oxytocin has both endocrine and paracrine effects in the female and male reproductive system and behaviour.

    • Oxytocin excites BNST interneurons and inhibits BNST output neurons to the central amygdala

      2021, Neuropharmacology
      Citation Excerpt :

      Oxytocin (OT) is a nine amino acid peptide serving as a hypothalamic hormone, which regulates uterine contractions during labor, milk ejection reflex during lactation (Caldeyro-Barcia and Poseiro, 1959; Nickerson et al., 1954), as well as water-electrolyte balance (Han et al., 1993; Verbalis et al., 1993).

    • Oxytocin during breastfeeding and maternal mood symptoms

      2020, Psychoneuroendocrinology
      Citation Excerpt :

      Lower levels of oxytocin, a neuropeptide involved in social behavior, have been shown to be associated with higher levels of depression in both non-pregnant adults (Gordon, Zagoory-Sharon et al. 2008) and postpartum women (Skrundz, Bolten et al. 2011). Oxytocin is critical for the milk ejection reflex to occur (Ely and Petersen, 1941; Gunther, 1942; Nickerson, Bonsnes et al. 1954). The relationship between oxytocin, maternal mood symptoms, and breastfeeding is not well understood.

    • Prosocial effects of prolactin in male rats: Social recognition, social approach and social learning

      2017, Hormones and Behavior
      Citation Excerpt :

      PRL promotes milk synthesis (Koprowski and Tucker, 1973), and its release from the anterior pituitary is regulated by tonic dopamine inhibition [reviewed in Ben-Jonathan and Hnasko, 2001]. OT is released from the posterior pituitary to control milk let-down (Nickerson et al., 1954). Although lactation is limited to females, PRL and OT also function as neuromodulators in both males and females.

    • Autism, oxytocin and interoception

      2014, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
    • Oxytocin and bone remodelling: Relationships with neuropituitary hormones, bone status and body composition

      2011, Joint Bone Spine
      Citation Excerpt :

      Although it can be synthesized in a few peripheral tissues, including the heart and reproductive systems, oxytocin (OT) is predominantly produced by magnocellular neurones and is translated from the most prevalent hypothalamic-specific mRNA [3]. OT is involved in several central and peripheral functions including parturition, milk letdown reflex and social behaviour [3–5]. Like leptin, OT plays a major role in the regulation of food intake and OT−/− mice develop late-onset obesity [6–10].

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text