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Serum lactogens possessed normal bioactivity in patients with lactation insufficiency
Author(s) -
Livingstone Verity H.,
Gout Peter W.,
Crickmer Sean D.,
Fox Kelly,
Prior Jerllynn C.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1994.tb02529.x
Subject(s) - lactation , prolactin , medicine , endocrinology , bioassay , placental lactogen , mammary gland , hormone , biology , pregnancy , fetus , breast cancer , genetics , cancer , placenta
Summary OBJECTIVE insufficient breast milk is the most common reason for premature termination of breast‐feeding. The causes of lactation insufficiency are usually multifactorial; In a small percentage of cases it Is due to primary lactation failure of unknown origin. The aim of this study was to Investigate whether lactation insufficiency of unknown origin could be caused by serum lactogens that had reduced biological activity. DESIGN Women with lactation Insufficiency of unknown origin and normal lactating controls were subjected to a standardized breast‐feeding test for assessment of milk production. Thirty minutes later, serum samples were obtained for determination of total lactogen bioactivity, using an in‐vitro bioassay, and levels of prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) using radiolmmunoassay (RIA). PATIENTS Twelve lactating mothers with a clinical diagnosis of lactation insufficiency of unknown origin were compared with 12 matched mothers with normal lactation. MEASUREMENTS The Nb2 lymphoma Cell bioassay was used to measure total lactogen bioactivity In sera. Conventional RIA kits were used to estimate serum PRL and GH concentrations. RESULTS Mean milk yield on standardized test feed was 21·6 mi for patients and 146·5 mi for controls. In both patient and control groups the total serum lactogen bioactivity ranged from about 150 to 5000 mlU/l, while the serum RIA (PRL + GH) levels ranged from about 350 to over 7000 mlU/l. There was no evidence of lactogens with reduced bioactivity in the patients' sera. CONCLUSION Lactation insufficiency In the women studied cannot be explained by serum lactogens that possess unusually low bioactivity.