HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tucker, H. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tucker, H. A.

Physiological Control of Mammary Growth, Lactogenesis, and Lactation¹

Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824

ABSTRACT

Research since 1955 that contributed to understanding mammary function was reviewed. Technical breakthroughs included methods: 1) to quantify mammary growth; 2) to visualize organelles in cells; 3) to grow and maintain mammary tissue in vitro; 4) to quantify hormones in blood; and 5) to determine binding affinities and numbers of binding sites for hormones. Physiological discoveries included 1) mammary cells accumulate throughout pregnancy and early lactation; 2) high doses of estradiol-17ß and progesterone induce substantial milk production in a majority of cattle; 3) estradiol-17ß, progesterone, prolactin, growth hormone, and placental lactogen synergize to stimulate mammary growth; 4) prolactin and glucocorticoids induce and progesterone blocks lactogenesis; 5) milking induces release of prolactin, glucocorticoids, and oxytocin into blood; 6) growth hormone is galactopoietic in ruminants; 7) progesterone concentrations in milk may be used to diagnose pregnancy; and 8) receptors for estrogens, progesterone, glucocorticoids, prolactin, placental lactogen, insulin, and oxytocin are in mammary tissue. Areas that seem likely to provide new methods for regulation of milk production efficiency are molecular biology, hormone receptors, harvesting milk, endocrine-nutrient metabolism, genetic and environmental basis of hormonal control of lactation. With continued support of research, generation of information on physiological control of the mammary gland and commercial application of this knowledge should proceed rapidly in an exciting future!

¹ Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Article No. 9623.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. E. Davis Rincker, M. S. Weber Nielsen, L. T. Chapin, J. S. Liesman, K. M. Daniels, R. M. Akers, and M. J. VandeHaar Effects of Feeding Prepubertal Heifers a High-Energy Diet for Three, Six, or Twelve Weeks on Mammary Growth and Composition J Dairy Sci, May 1, 2008; 91(5): 1926 - 1935. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Patton, D. A. Kenny, J. F. Mee, F. P. O'Mara, D. C. Wathes, M. Cook, and J. J. Murphy Effect of Milking Frequency and Diet on Milk Production, Energy Balance, and Reproduction in Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, May 1, 2006; 89(5): 1478 - 1487. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Akers Major advances associated with hormone and growth factor regulation of mammary growth and lactation in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci, April 1, 2006; 89(4): 1222 - 1234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Song and T. Oka Regulation of type II deiodinase expression by EGF and glucocorticoid in HC11 mouse mammary epithelium Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, June 1, 2003; 284(6): E1119 - E1124. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]