Balogh Reichler Kowalewski
Fakultäten » Vetsuisse-Fakultät » Nutztiere, Departement für » Reproduktionsmedizin, Klinik für » PD Dr. Iris Reichler » Balogh Reichler Kowalewski
Current research project
| Title / Titel | The effects of metoclopramid treatment on milk production, serum prolactin and milk IgG levels in healthy postpartum bitches | ||||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | Agalactia or the shortage of milk supply is a clinical condition of the postpartum bitch, the aetiology of which is poorly understood. However, it may pose a serious risk to the health of the puppies after birth. Growth rate of these pups is reduced due to insufficient milk intake and may necessitate feeding supplementation. When pups do not ingest colostrum, transfer of immunoglobulins (primarily IgG) from the dam does not occur and ends in failure of passive immunity of the newborns. Metoclopramid (MC) at a dose of 0.1-0.2 mg/kg every 6-8 hours subcutaneously or orally is recommended to stimulate prolactin (PRL) secretion, but no actual data in the postpartum bitch supports this recommendation. PRL increases around parturition, levels fall and stay low for 24-48 hrs post partum, and then increases again and remains high during lactation. Prolactin secretion is under tonic suppression by dopamine acting on D2 receptors of the lactotrophs in the anterior pituitary. Metoclopramid is an antidopaminergic gastrointestinal prokinetic that also activates D2 receptors on the lactotrophs cells. MC enhanced serum PRL levels in healthy women by ~ 185%, but failed to augment milk production in women with premature newborns. In the dog, metoclopramid at 0.2 mg/kg per os every 8 hours significantly increased serum PRL concentrations from 4.5 ± 1.1 ng/ml before treatment to 6.5 ± 1.6 ng/ml in male Beagles. Due to the lack of clinical studies that could prove the beneficial effect of MC treatment for agalactia in bitches, our objectives are to determine whether metoclopramid in the recommended dosage could increase serum prolactin concentrations and thereby milk production post partum, and whether this could positively influence body weight gain of the pups. We also want to see if metoclopramid administration has any influence on colostral IgG levels. |
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| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | metoclopramid, bitch, agalactia, prolactin | ||||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
Universität Zürich (position pursuing an academic career) |
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| In collaboration with / In Zusammenarbeit mit |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Jan 2012 to Jan 2014 |