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The objective of the study was to record how somatostatin levels in plasma are altered in response to breast-feeding during the lactation period and to relate somatostatin levels to the success of the lactational performance and to smoking habits. Fifty-two women were investigated 4 days post partum and 3-4 months later. Blood samples were collected and the levels of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (below referred to as SLI) were measured with radioimmunoassay. The periods of exclusive breast-feeding and of mixed feeding were assessed as well as the milk yield. Smoking habits were noted. SLI levels were found to be significantly lower on day 4 after delivery, compared to 3-4 months later. Also the type of response to breast-feeding was different. Thus, a significant fall of SLI was seen during breast-feeding at the maternity unit, but not 3-4 months later. Smoking women breast-fed fully for a significantly shorter time than nonsmokers and had significantly higher SLI levels at onset of breast-feeding day 4 post partum. Whether the high somatostatin levels recorded in connection with breast-feeding in smokers are related to the shorter period of breast-feeding seen in this group remains to be established. In addition, the highest levels of somatostatin were seen the day after the very last breast-feeding and a possible role for somatostatin in the weaning process should be explored.

It is well established that sensory stimulation is of great importance for the growth of and for the physiological and psychological development of infants. Supplementary sensory stimulation such as non-nutritive sucking and tactile stimulation has been shown to increase the growth rate and the maturation of premature infants. In human neonates non-nutritive sucking has a vagally mediated influence on the levels of some gastrointestinal hormones. In animal experiments afferent electrical stimulations of the sciatic nerves at low intensity leads to an activation of the vagal nerves and to a consequent release of vagally controlled gastrointestinal hormones such as gastrin and cholecystokinin. We therefore assume that both non-nutritive sucking and tactile stimulation trigger the activity of sensory nerves which leads to a release of vagally regulated gut hormones. Since gut hormones stimulate gastrointestinal motor and secretory activity and the growth of the gastrointestinal tract, and enhance the glucose-induced insulin release, they may contribute to the beneficial effects on maturation and growth caused by sensory stimulation. In the breast-feeding situation, the sucking of the child elicits similar reflexes in the mother leading to an activation of the maternal gut endocrine system and a consequent increase in energy uptake. These data indicate that many types of neurogenic reflexes induced in mother-infant interactions are of importance for the energy economy of both mother and child.

Gastric emptying of newborn infants is a procedure performed to prevent aspiration of gastric contents. The present investigation was conducted to study the effects of gastric suction on circulatory and behavioural parameters in 21 healthy newborn children (11 cases, 10 controls). A small elevation in mean arterial blood pressure was observed during gastric suction. The incidence of retching was also increased. In all children spontaneous sucking and rooting movements, as well as state of sleep and wakefulness were recorded. In the control group spontaneous sucking and rooting movements started occur 15 min after birth and reached a maximum at 45 and 60 min, respectively. The first hand to mouth movement was observed after a mean of 34 min and the infants found the nipple and started to suckle at about 55 min. This sequence of prefeeding behaviour was disrupted in children who had undergone gastric suction. The physiological side-effects induced by gastric suction are minor, but it seemed to be unpleasant for the child and no clear advantages are gained by the procedure.

The aim of the present investigation was to study volume, pH and the levels of gastrin- and somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in gastric aspirates obtained immediately after birth from 25 healthy infants. In addition, the same parameters were measured in amniotic fluid collected from 11 of the mothers. The median volume of the gastric contents was 4 ml (range 0-11) and median pH was 6.96 (range 2.77-9.58). Gastrin and somatostatin median concentrations were 8 pM (range 0-52) and 67 pM (range 15- greater than 1,000), respectively. The corresponding levels in amniotic fluid were 8.2 +/- 3.6 pM and 28.4 +/- 5.3 pM, median pH was 9.22 (range 8.05-9.58). There was a significant correlation between volume and pH of gastric contents. The pH of the gastric aspirate was inversely correlated with the somatostatin levels. No correlation could be demonstrated as regards levels in amniotic fluid and gastric content. Gastric content and amniotic fluid were not correlated regarding pH, gastrin and somatostatin. It is suggested that the foetus drinks about 10 ml portions of amniotic fluid which are gradually emptied from the stomach and that these drinking episodes are associated with gastric exocrine and endocrine secretion normally seen following feeding after birth.