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Plasma beta‐endorphin concentrations during suckling in lactating women
Author(s) -
FRANCESCHINI ROBERTO,
VENTURINI PIER LUIGI,
CATALDI ANGELO,
BARRECA TOMMASO,
RAGNI NICOLA,
ROLANDI ERMANNO
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1989.tb03287.x
Subject(s) - prolactin , beta endorphin , medicine , endocrinology , hormone , venous blood , lactation , pregnancy , biology , genetics
Summary. Beta‐endorphin appears to be involved in the hormonal response to suckling in some animals. The peripheral secretory patterns of β‐endorphin, prolactin and cortisol were investigated in serial venous blood samples taken during suckling from eight healthy women who were breast‐feeding on the third or fourth day of the puerperium. Plasma levels of prolactin and β‐endorphin increased significantly during suckling reaching a peak after 20 min, levels of cortisol remained unaffected. It is suggested that the increased β‐endorphin derives from an extra‐hypophyseal source.