Schriefer J A, Lewis P R, Miller J W
Biol Reprod. 1982 Sep;27(2):362-8. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod27.2.362.
The oxytocin (OT) content of pituitary glands from neonatal rats was reduced by parturition, indicating possible release from fetal glands during labor. The content of fetal glands fell from 2.5 ng/gland in utero to 1 ng/gland immediately after birth. Rabbit serum antibodies against OT were administered to pregnant or fetal rats preceding parturition or to lactating rats on Day 10 of lactation. Antibody administration to lactating rats resulted in a decrease in weight gain of suckling pups, indicating that OT was bound by antibody. Administration of OT antibody to pregnant rats had no effect on the duration of gestation while injection into fetal pups resulted in an 18 h increase in the mean duration of gestation compared to sham-injected controls. These studies indicate that fetal OT might have a role in initiating parturition in the rat.
新生大鼠垂体中的催产素（OT）含量因分娩而降低，这表明在分娩过程中可能有来自胎儿腺体的释放。胎儿腺体的含量从子宫内的2.5纳克/腺体降至出生后立即的1纳克/腺体。在分娩前给怀孕或胎儿大鼠注射抗OT的兔血清抗体，或在哺乳期第10天给哺乳大鼠注射。给哺乳大鼠注射抗体导致哺乳幼崽体重增加减少，表明OT被抗体结合。给怀孕大鼠注射OT抗体对妊娠期持续时间没有影响，而注射到胎儿幼崽中导致与假注射对照组相比，平均妊娠期延长18小时。这些研究表明，胎儿OT可能在启动大鼠分娩中起作用。
