Abstract
Summary
The lactogenic activity of human chorionic somatomammotropin (HCS) 2 has been assessed in mature, nonpregnant female Rhesus monkeys. When HCS (25 mg twice daily) was administered alone no changes in mammary gland morphology were observed. However, when HCS was administered for 2 weeks to animals previously treated for 2 weeks with 17β-estradiol (5 mg/day) plus progesterone (20 mg/day), histologic changes in mammary tissue suggestive of milk production were observed in the mammary glands. In addition, HCS alone neither altered mammary gland morphology in monkeys with well-established lactation nor affected the rate of weight gain in their suckling monkeys. Thus, in primates, HCS secretion during pregnancy appears to facilitate progesterone and/or estrogens in preparing mammary tissue for lactation.
The author wishes to thank Mrs. Sally A. Wells and Mrs. Susan Ohaver for their technical assistance.
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