Milk Ejection Bursts of Supraoptic Oxytocin Neurones during Bilateral and Unilateral Suckling in the Rat

Extracellular recordings of the electrical activity of oxytocin neurones were made from the supraoptic nuclei (SON) of lactating rats, and the milk‐ejection bursts and the background activity of oxytocin neurones were investigated during unilateral and bilateral suckling. When application of pups was limited to the nipples on either the same side (ipsilateral suckling) or the side opposite (contralateral suckling) to the oxytocin neurone recorded, the burst amplitude and background firing rate were significantly (P