ESTIMATION OF AN OXYTOCIN-LIKE SUBSTANCE IN HIGHLY PURIFIED EXTRACTS FROM THE BLOOD OF PUERPERAL WOMEN DURING SUCKLING

Abstract
SUMMARY: The presence of a substance in the jugular blood of lactating women with the chromatographic, electrophoretic, and pharmacological properties of oxytocin has been demonstrated. The concentration of this substance in the jugular plasma, during suckling, was equivalent to 12–25 μ-u./ml. synthetic oxytocin. These figures are in good agreement with those calculated from the rate of infusion of oxytocin necessary to elicit milk ejections similar to that produced during suckling.