EFFECT OF PROLACTIN ON MAMMARY GLAND SECRETION¹

Abstract

PROLACTIN induces lactation in animals. Can an analogous action in women be inferred? Before testing the clinical value of prolactin, it is necessary to determine what constitutes normal milk secretion in women. Standards should be established to measure the apparent action of prolactin on human breast secretion. Three hundred and eighty consecutive cases have been studied with these problems in mind. Authentic reports of measurements of normal human milk secretion are few. In 1909, Jaschke (1) reported the average daily milk consumption of 18 babies during the first 8 postpartum days. The birth weights varied between 2700 and 3410 gm. He included the average daily milk secretion as reported by 10 workers to which his own series was added (fig. 1). In the same year Rosenfeld (2) presented the daily intake of 21 babies during the first 7 postpartum days. The birth weights ranged from 2530 to 4100 gm.