Pfister H P, Muir J L
Department of Psychology, University of Newcastle N.S.W., Australia.
Int J Neurosci. 1989 Mar;45(1-2):91-9. doi: 10.3109/00207458908986220.
Recent evidence suggests that oxytocin modulates both ACTH and prolactin secretion. The present study was designed to investigate the possible role of oxytocin in the corticosterone and prolactin response to predictable and unpredictable novelty stress. These responses were examined in lactating females (Day 6 and Day 21 postpartum) which had received stress and oxytocin treatment during pregnancy. The results demonstrated that exposure to the novelty stressors during pregnancy resulted in a significant elevation in corticosterone levels of lactating females on Day 6 postpartum. A similar elevation was also observed on Day 21 postpartum for the unpredictable condition. Oxytocin treatment did not, however, significantly affect the corticosterone response to the psychological stressor. Furthermore, prolactin levels were not significantly affected on either Day 6 or Day 21 postpartum by either novelty stress or oxytocin treatment administered during pregnancy. It was suggested that the sustained elevation in corticosterone levels obtained following unpredictable exposure to the stressor had important implications for the lactation process.
近期证据表明，催产素可调节促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）和催乳素的分泌。本研究旨在探究催产素在皮质酮和催乳素对可预测和不可预测的新异应激反应中的可能作用。在孕期接受过应激和催产素处理的哺乳期雌性动物（产后第6天和第21天）中检测这些反应。结果表明，孕期暴露于新异应激源会导致产后第6天哺乳期雌性动物的皮质酮水平显著升高。在产后第21天的不可预测情况下也观察到了类似的升高。然而，催产素处理并未显著影响皮质酮对心理应激源的反应。此外，孕期给予的新异应激或催产素处理对产后第6天或第21天的催乳素水平均无显著影响。研究表明，不可预测地暴露于应激源后皮质酮水平的持续升高对泌乳过程具有重要意义。
