The effects of depletion of hypothalamic norepinephrine (NE) during late pregnancy on the postpartum ovulatory LH surge, the onset and maintenance of maternal behavior and lactation were examined in adult female rats. Bilateral transections of the ascending noradrenergic pathways (ANP) between days 14 and 17 of gestation resulted in a 70% depletion in hypothalamic NE content when assayed on day 6 postpartum. In spite of this depletion in hypothalamic NE content, a postpartum ovulatory surge of LH was observed in transected rats at 18:00 h on either the day of parturition or 1 day later. The magnitude of the LH surge in experimental animals at this time appeared equal to that of controls. A second group of transected and sham-transected rats was tested for maternal responsiveness postpartum and through day 6 postpartum. Primiparous transected females displayed normal maternal behavior during this period with only minor disruptions in nest-building behavior. The lactational performance of transected rats, however, was inferior to that of sham-transected animals. The hypothalamic content of NE in females that showed impairment of lactation was consistently below the NE content found in the controls. The importance of the noradrenergic system in the control of maternal behavior is discussed, and it is proposed that noradrenergic involvement in maternal behavior is modulatory rather than directly regulatory.

Keywords:
Ascending noradrenergic pathway transections, Hypothalamic norepinephrine, Lactation, Maternal behavior, Postpartum LH release
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1982 S. Karger AG, Basel
1982
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.