285. Studies on experimental teat and mammary development and lactation in the goat

Abstract

1. Observations on five animals indicate that the teats of immature castrated male goats grow isometrically. Less extensive data on three animals allow of the tentative conclusion that the same is true of immature normal males. In the male goat therefore teat growth appears to be uninfluenced by the testes. 2. Administration of diethylstilboestrol or its dipropionate to normal or castrated immature male goats causes the teats to grow allometrically for a time. 3. No externally visible udder growth occurred even when oestrogen treatment was prolonged for periods of over a year and was supplemented by progesterone or ethinyltestosterone. Whole mounts of glands from treated animals indicated that some mammary growth had occurred. In two cases microscopic examination showed the presence of alveoli. No explanation can be offered of the failure to develop the udder in the male goat experimentally. 4. Endocrine activity of the ovary as evidenced by a change from isometric to allometric teat growth often manifests itself in the young female goat at an early age. In one case allometric teat growth was in progress at 41 days of age. During the allometric phase the data agree with the simple allometric law. 5. During the rutting season following its birth, teat growth ceases completely in the female goat; allometric growth is resumed when the rutting season ends. It therefore appears that the corpus luteum inhibits teat growth. 6. Administration of diethylstilboestrol or its dipropionate (by inunction of the udder region) causes, in the virgin female, an increase in the rate of teat growth accompanied by udder growth.