Would boosting the oxytocin system lead to longer breast-feeding?

The benefits of breastfeeding infants over giving them formula are well-known. But a baby's slow weight gain and growth rate is a major reason many women stop. University of Utah researchers found that blocking central OT receptors in the pregnant females' brain reduced their offspring's growth from the third day after birth through their two-week experiment. They're now seeking ways to boost efficiency of the oxytocin system.


"Central oxytocin receptor blockade during gestation alters oxytocin release and pup development during lactation." Steven L. Bealer, William R. Crowley, David L. Lipschitz, University of Utah. Funded by U.S. Public Health Service grants.


The presentations above were given at the American Physiological Society's 2005 Conference, "Neurohypophyseal Hormones: From Genomics and Physiology to Disease," July 16-20 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.


A detailed program, including abstracts, for the entire meeting is available to members of the mediaA detailed program, including abstracts, for the entire meeting is available to members of the media


Arrangements for interviews can be through APS from Mayer Resnick (cell: 301.332.4402; office 301.634.7209, or mresnickthe-aps).


Sponsorships. The American Physiological Society thanks the following sponsors for their generous support of the conference: Astellas Pharmaceuticals Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, NIH/NIDDK, Wyeth Research and Olympus America Inc.


Three APS Journals call for papers. In conjunction with the conference, three American Journal of Physiology (AJP) editions - AJP-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, AJP-Endocrinology and Metabolism, and AJP-Renal Physiology - have called for related papers for publication. The deadline for all editions is October 1, 2005.


The American Physiological Society was founded in 1887 to foster basic and applied bioscience. The Bethesda, Maryland-based society has more than 10,000 members and publishes 14 peer-reviewed journals containing almost 4,000 articles annually.


APS provides a wide range of research, educational and career support and programming to further the contributions of physiology to understanding the mechanisms of diseased and healthy states. In May 2004, APS received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM).


The full press releases are available on the APS Press Room conference website: the-aps/press/conference/index.htm


The American Physiological Society

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