LEVEL OF OXYTOCIN RELEASE INDUCED BY VAGINAL DILATATION (FERGUSON REFLEX) AND VAGAL-STIMULATION (VAGO-PITUITARY REFLEX) IN LACTATING RATS

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  • 1 January 1975
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 70  (3) , 307-314
Abstract
Vaginal dilatation for 30 s caused a rapid and brief increase in intramammary pressure which was equivalent to that evoked by 160 .mu.U [units] of oxytocin (Syntocinon) injected i.v. The rise in mammary pressure induced by the stimulation of the central end of a severed vagus nerve for 30 s (5 V, 0.5 ms, 50 Hz) was similar to the response obtained with an i.v. injection of 360 .mu.U of oxytocin. The vago-pituitary reflex leads to the liberation of large amounts of antidiuretic hormone which does not interfere with the effect of oxytocin on the mammary gland, since dexamethasone phosphate prevented the vasopressor effect without significantly affecting the increase in intramammary pressure.

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