Hostname: page-component-857557d7f7-zntvd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-12-07T23:10:44.799Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Early milk ejection, prolonged parturition and periparturient oxytocin release in the pig

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2016

H. Castrén ,
B. Algers ,
A. M. de Passillé ,
J. Rushen  and
K. Uvnäs-Moberg
H. Castrén
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Hygiene, College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 6, SF-00581 Helsinki, Finland
B. Algers
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Hygiene, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 53224 Skara, Sweden
A. M. de Passillé
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Lennoxville, Québec, J1M 1Z3, Canada
J. Rushen
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Lennoxville, Québec, J1M 1Z3, Canada
K. Uvnäs-Moberg
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, 10401 Stockholm, Sweden
Get access

Abstract

Plasma oxytocin was measured in 11 multiparous sows for 13 h after the start of parturition to confirm the existence of early milk ejections and determine whether they were associated with pulsatile oxytocin release. The relationship between oxytocin concentrations and duration of parturition was also analysed. Oxytocin was released in pulses during and after parturition and mean concentrations reached maximum 2 to 4 h after the first birth. Discrete milk ejections occurred during parturition but only 42% of these were associated with oxytocin peaks before 4 h post partum. After this more than 80% of milk ejections occurred with oxytocin peaks. Sow grunting increased during milk ejections and peak grunt rate increased after parturition. Oxytocin peaks without milk ejections did not lead to an increased rate of grunting. Sows with prolonged parturition had lower basal and peak oxytocin concentrations. During the first 4 h only half of the piglets were born during an oxytocin peak. Discrete milk ejections with oxytocin peaks can occur before parturition is completed. However, during the first 4 h post partum, basal oxytocin concentrations may be high enough for milk ejection to occur without further oxytocin secretion. Both milk ejection and oxytocin release are necessary for the sow to increase grunt rate. Low oxytocin concentration is associated with prolonged parturition.

Keywords

milk ejectionoxytocinparturitionsows

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 57 , Issue 3 , December 1993 , pp. 465 - 471
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Algers, B., Rojanasthien, S. and Uvnäs-Moberg, K. 1990. The relation between teat stimulation, oxytocin release and grunting rate in the sow. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 26: 267–276.Google Scholar
Bille, N., Nielsen, N., Larsen, J. and Svendsen, J. 1974. Preweaning mortality in pigs. 2. The perinatal period. Nordisk Veterinary Medicine 26: 294–313.Google Scholar
Castrén, H., Algers, B., Jensen, P. and Saloniemi, H. 1989. Suckling behaviour and milk consumption in newborn piglets as a response to sow grunting. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 24: 227–238.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crowley, W. and Armstrong, W. 1992. Neurochemical regulation of oxytocin secretion in lactation. Endocrine Reviews 13: 33–65.Google Scholar
Debackere, M. and Peeters, G. 1960. The influence of vaginal distension on milk ejection and diuresis in the lactating cow. Achievements in International Pharmacodynamics 73: 462–471.Google Scholar
Ellendorff, F., Forsling, M. and Poulain, D. 1982. The milk ejection reflex in the pig. Journal of Physiology, London 333: 577–594.Google Scholar
Flint, A., Forsling, M., Mitchell, M. and Turnbull, A. 1975. Temporal relationship between changes in oxytocin and prostaglandin F levels in response to vaginal distension in the pregnant and puerperal ewe. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 43: 551–554.Google Scholar
Forsling, M., Taverne, M., Parvizi, N., Elsaesser, F., Smidt, D. and Ellendorff, F. 1979. Plasma oxytocin and steroid concentrations during late pregnancy, parturition and lactation in the miniature pig. Journal of Endocrinology 82: 61–69.Google Scholar
Fraser, D. 1977. Some behavioural aspects of milk ejection failure by sows. British Veterinary Journal 133: 126–133.Google Scholar
Fraser, D. 1980. A review of the behavioural mechanism of milk ejection of the domestic pig. Applied Animal Ethology 6: 247–255.Google Scholar
Fraser, D. 1984. Some factors influencing the availability of colostrum to piglets. Animal Production 39: 115–123.Google Scholar
Fraser, D. and Rushen, J. 1992. Colostrum intake by newborn piglets. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 72: 1–13.Google Scholar
Gonyou, H. and Stookey, J. 1987. Maternal and neonatal behavior. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 3: 231–249.Google Scholar
Higuchi, T., Tadokoro, Y., Honda, K. and Negoro, H. 1986. Detailed analysis of blood oxytocin levels during suckling and parturition in the rat. Journal of Endocrinology 110: 251–256.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jensen, P. 1986. Observations on the maternal behaviour of free-ranging domestic pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 16: 131–142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lawrence, A., Petherick, C., McLean, K., Gilbert, C., Chapman, C. and Russell, J. 1993. Naloxone prevents interruption of parturition and increases plasma oxytocin following environmental disturbance in parturient sows. Physiology and Behaviour 52: 917–923.Google Scholar
Lefcourt, A. M. and Akers, R. M. 1983. Is oxytocin really necessary for efficient milk removal in dairy cows? Journal of Dairy Science 66: 2251–2259.Google Scholar
Lewis, N. and Hurnik, J. 1985. The development of nursing behaviour in swine. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 14: 225–232.Google Scholar
McDonald, L. 1977. Hormones affecting reproduction. In Veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics (ed. Jones, L., Booth, N. and McDonald, L.), pp. 629–658. The Iowa State University Press.Google Scholar
Madec, F. and Leon, E. 1992. Farrowing disorders in the sow: a field study. Journal of Veterinary Medicine A 39: 433–444.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Passillé, A. M. B. de and Rushen, J. 1989. Suckling and teat disputes by neonatal piglets. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 22: 23–38.Google Scholar
Poulain, D. and Tasker, J. 1985. Recurrent mammary gland contractions induced by a low tonic release of oxytocin in rats. Journal of Endocrinology 107: 89–96.Google Scholar
Randall, G. 1972. Observations on parturition in the sow. II. Factors influencing stillbirth and perinatal mortality. Veterinary Record 90: 183–186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, J. and Share, L. 1968. Ocytocin in plasma of pregnant, lactating and cycling ewes during vaginal stimulation. Endocrinology 83: 272–278.Google Scholar
Rodriguez, H. and Kunavongkrit, A. 1983. Chronical venous catheterization for frequent blood sampling in unrestrained pigs. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 24: 318–320.Google Scholar
Rojkittikhun, T. 1992. Clinical and endocrinological studies in lactating and post-weaning primiparous sows. Ph.D. Thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.Google Scholar
Rushen, J. and Fraser, D. 1989. Nutritive and nonnutritive sucking and the temporal organization of the suckling behavior of domestic piglets. Developments in Psychobiology 22: 789–801.Google Scholar
Russell, J. A., Gosden, R. G., Humphreys, E. M., Cutting, R., Fitzsimons, N., Johnston, V., Liddle, S., Scott, S. and Stirland, J. A. 1989. Interruption of parturition in rats by morphine: a result of inhibition of oxytocin secretion. Journal of Endocrinology 121: 521–536.Google Scholar
Statistical Analysis System Institute. 1985. SAS user's guide: statistics. Version 5 edition. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, N.C.Google Scholar
Stock, S. and Uvnäs-Moberg, K. 1985. Oxytocin infusions increase plasma levels of insulin and VIP but not of gastrin in conscious dogs. Acta Physiology Scandinavica 125: 205–210.Google Scholar
Stock, S. and Uvnäs-Moberg, K. 1988. Increased plasma levels of oxytocin in response to afferent electrical stimulation of the sciatic and vagal nerves and in response to touch and pinch in anaesthetized rats. Acta Physiology Scandinavica 132: 29–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wakerley, J., Clarke, G. and Summerlee, A. 1988. Milk ejection and its control. In Physiology of reproduction (ed. Knobil, E. and Neill, J.), pp. 2283–2321. Raven Press, New York.Google Scholar
Whatson, T. and Bertram, J. 1980. A comparison of incomplete nursing in the sow in two environments. Animal Production 30: 105–114.Google Scholar
Whittemore, C. and Fraser, D. 1974. The nursing and suckling behaviour of pigs. II. Vocalization of the sow in relation to suckling behaviour and milk ejection. British Veterinary Journal 130: 346–356.Google Scholar