Summary
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1.
Cardiac output and regional blood flow were measured in conscious lactating and non-lactating rabbits.
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2.
At 14 days post-partum the cardiac output in lactating rabbits was 30% higher than that measured in virgin animals.
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3.
The mammary gland was the only organ to show an increase in relative weight (% body weight) during lactation and also the only organ to receive an increased proportion of the cardiac output per g tissue weight during lactation.
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4.
These results are discussed in the context of net substrate uptake by the lactating rabbit mammary gland.
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Jones, C.S., Parker, D.S. Mammary blood flow and cardiac output in the conscious lactating rabbit. J Comp Physiol B 138, 31–34 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00688732
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00688732