Abstract
Summary
Daily administration of 100 μg crystalline dihydrotachysterol/100 g BW from day 4 to 20 of lactation in conjunction with 3.0 μg L-thyroxine/100 g BW was able to maintain lactational performance in thyroparathyroidectomized rats. Milk yields of the thyroparathyroidectomized animals were elevated to the level of the sham-operated group by day 14 of lactation but litter weights of the thyroparathyroidectomized animals were smaller than the sham-operated controls. It is suggested that the role of crystalline dihydrotachysterol in maintaining milk secretion is mediated by the mobilization of a level of serum calcium adequate for the synthesis of milk.
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