Comparison of Plasma Corticosterone and Prolactin Levels in Cycling and Lactating Rats

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Abstract
Plasma corticosterone and prolactin concentrations were measured in cycling rats during diestrus, lactating rats continuously with their litters, and 12 h litter-deprived lactating rats under conditions in which both hormones are released. The plasma corticosterone response to ether was twice as high in cycling rats as in lactating rats. Ether was a more effective stimulator of corticosterone release than was suckling and suckling elicited far greater increases in plasma prolactin than did ether. Only a brief suckling stimulus (<5 min) or ether exposure (2 min) resulted in maximal plasma corticosterone levels, whereas a longer duration of suckling was required for maximal prolactin secretion. In contrast, a 2-min exposure to ether elevated prolactin levels more than did 30 min of continuous ether. The results are discussed in terms of the dissociation in the magnitude and maintenance of secretion of these hormones under different conditions.

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