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Dev Psychobiol

Title:		Human breast areolae as scent organs: morphological data and possible involvement in maternal-neonatal coadaptation
Author(s):		Schaal B; Doucet S; Sagot P; Hertling E; Soussignan R;
Address:		"Centre des Sciences du Gout, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (UMR 5170 CNRS-Universite de Bourgogne-Inra), Dijon, France. schaal@cesg.cnrs.fr"
Journal Title:		Dev Psychobiol
Year:		2006
Volume:		48
Issue:		2
Page Number:		100 - 110
DOI:		10.1002/dev.20122
ISSN/ISBN:		0012-1630 (Print) 0012-1630 (Linking)
Abstract:		"In humans, areolar skin glands (AG) enlarge during pregnancy and lactation. Their role in mother-infant interactions may pertain to protective, mechanical, and communicative functions. It was questioned here whether more profuse AG could be related to more optimal adaptation to breastfeeding. A morphological study of the areolae was undertaken between birth and day 3 to assess the number, secretory status, and spatial distribution of AG. These data were related to infants' weight variation, mothers' perception of their infant's behavior at breast, and time between delivery and onset of lactation. AG were seen in virtually all women but with great interindividual variations; their areolar distribution was nonrandom, and about 1/5 of the women had AG giving off a secretion. The AG number was positively related with neonatal weight gain between birth and day 3, and with the mother's perception of infant's latching speed and sucking activity. AG numbers were also positively related with the onset of lactation in first-time mothers. In conclusion, the maternal endowment in AG may contribute to the infants' breastfeeding performance, early growth, and the mother's lactation onset"
Keywords:		"Adult *Breast Feeding Colostrum Female Humans Infant, Newborn Lactation/physiology *Mother-Child Relations Nipples/*physiology *Object Attachment Pheromones/physiology Pregnancy Sebaceous Glands/*physiology Smell/physiology Sucking Behavior/physiology Wei;"
Notes:		"MedlineSchaal, Benoist Doucet, Sebastien Sagot, Paul Hertling, Elisabeth Soussignan, Robert eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2006/02/21 Dev Psychobiol. 2006 Mar; 48(2):100-10. doi: 10.1002/dev.20122"