Suppression of prolactin in pigs by Escherichia coli endotoxin

An endotoxin produced by Escherichia coli caused a decrease in prolactin concentrations in the plasma of sows when given at low dosages 2 days postpartum. Five to tenfold increases occurred in the plasma cortisol concentrations. Piglet growth, used as an indicator of milk secretion by the sows, was...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1984-05, Vol.224 (4649), p.605-607
Main Authors: Smith, Bradford B., Wagner, W. C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bacteriology
Biological and medical sciences
Blood
Blood plasma
Diseases
Dosage
Dysentery
Endotoxins
Endotoxins - pharmacology
Escherichia coli
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Lactation
Lactation - drug effects
Lactation Disorders - etiology
Mammary glands
Microbiology
Pathogenicity, virulence, toxins, bacteriocins, pyrogens, host-bacteria relations, miscellaneous strains
Physiological aspects
Piglets
Pregnancy
Prolactin
Prolactin - blood
Standard error
Swine
Swine - physiology
Swine diseases
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Summary:An endotoxin produced by Escherichia coli caused a decrease in prolactin concentrations in the plasma of sows when given at low dosages 2 days postpartum. Five to tenfold increases occurred in the plasma cortisol concentrations. Piglet growth, used as an indicator of milk secretion by the sows, was significantly depressed after the endotoxin administration. Some cases of lactation failure in the periparturient sow may thus be due to endotoxins suppressing prolactin concentrations. This appears to be the first report of a bacterial endotoxin having an effect on prolactin in any species.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.6369541