This is not to prove the point my family has put forth for years: that I
am weird because I read anatomy books for enjoyment!

But last week, I borrowed from the local medical library the book "The
Mammary Gland, Development, Regulation and Function" edited by Neville
and Daniel. Around this time, LN  thread of males lactating was
developing. This is a quote that may have some bearing on the
"hardware/no software" post. Of course, these observations were done on
RODENTS. . . .

". . . . ..In male mice and rats, mammary gland development is inhibited
by fetal androgen. At 14 days in mouse embryos, the male mammaray
epithelium decreases in volume, . . . . .. At 15 days, the epithelial
stalk connecting the mammary rudiment with the epidermis becomes very
narrow and finally ruptures. The gland rudiment, which is detached from
the epidermis and is buried in the mammary far pad as a blind duct then
undergoes poor growth or even degeneration. . . .the epithelial rudiment
often disappears completely in the mammary fat pad of male mice. . . .
.In male rats, however, the mammary glands develop as in female rats but
have no external outlet."

Just a curiosity, for what it's worth. . . .

K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio


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