Plasma relaxin immunoactivity in the pig at parturition and during nuzzling and suckling
- 1 July 1979
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Bioscientifica in Reproduction
- Vol. 56 (2), 451-457
- https://doi.org/10.1530/jrf.0.0560451
Abstract
One sow bled at 30-60 min intervals for 48 h at 5 and 4 days before parturition had mean .+-. SEM [standard error of the mean] relaxin levels of 5.0 .+-. 0.48 ng/ml and 5.5 .+-. 0.44 ng/ml for each 24 h period, respectively. This sow and another were bled at frequent intervals during parturition; both showed considerable fluctuations in their relaxin levels but no consistent peaks in relation to each birth. Mean levels during parturition were 10.7 .+-. 0.46 ng/ml and 13.4 .+-. 0.81 ng/ml, respectively, both significantly higher than the levels at 4 and 5 days before birth. Relaxin levels in 2 lactating sows rose acutely during nursing, showing a 3-fold rise in 1 animal and an 8-fold rise in the other. Results from a 3rd sow during an extended period of nuzzling and sucking by the piglets showed multiple peaks of relaxin immunoactivity associated with each nuzzling/sucking stimulus.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: