RELEASES OF OXYTOCIN AND PROLACTIN DURING BREAST MASSAGE AND SUCKLINGIN PUERPERAL WOMEN

The responses of prolactin (PRL) and oxytocin (OT) to suckling and bre ast massage were examined in lactating women. The suckling group showe d increase in frequency of pulsatile release of OT and increase of the plasma PRL level. In contrast, the breast massage group showed a sign ificant, but not a pulsatile increase in the plasma OT level and no in crease in the plasma PRL level. These findings suggest that suckling c auses both milk production and milk ejection, while breast massage cau ses only ejection of milk already stored in acini, and that prolactin release is not related to increase of the oxytocin level itself, but t o its pulsatile release.