BREAST-FEEDING - PHYSIOLOGICAL, ENDOCRINE AND BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS CAUSED BY OXYTOCIN AND LOCAL NEUROGENIC ACTIVITY IN THE NIPPLE AND MAMMARY-GLAND

It is now well established that oxytocin, as well as stimulating uteri ne contractions and milk ejection, promotes the development of materna l behaviour and also bonding between mother and offspring. In addition , oxytocin exerts by way of peripheral, circulating as well as by cent ral, neurogenic mechanisms multiple physiological, endocrine and behav ioural effects in connection with milk ejection and lactation. Some ef fects of oxytocin in the nipple and mammary gland appear to be exerted in close collaboration with peptides released from axon collaterals o f somatosensory nerves originating in this region. The distribution of peptides localized to the somatosensory afferents in the nipple and m ammary gland as well as possible effects by oxytocin and/or local neur ogenic peptides in connection with milk ejection and lactation are rev iewed in this paper.