Arousal a prerequisite for suckling in the conscious rabbit?

Electrocorticographic activity (ECoG) was recorded from the frontal cortex of unanaesthetized, lactating rabbits, and analysed in relation to the suckling behaviour of the animals. Suckling lasted 2--5 minutes each day and was always associated with a desynchronized ECoG. Milk ejection was never seen during slow wave sleep. Mild sedation of the doe caused a dose-dependent block of milk yield but did not affect her willingness to suckle and the ECoG was desynchronized during nursing. In contrast to the rat, but similar to the pig, sleep is not a prerequisite for reflex milk ejection in the rabbit. Evidence presented implies that ECoG arousal may be important for this reflex in the rabbit.