Action of epinephrine on the function of the teat sphincter in the lactating cow

Under continuous IV infusion of oxytocin, milk leakage was elicited in 6 lactating cows with full udders by induction of a vacuum (-30 cm of water) around 1 mammary papilla (teat) with a plethysmographic apparatus. The volumes of milk loss were measured every minute. Epinephrine injected either into the jugular vein (20, 100, and 500 micrograms) or into the external pudic artery (1.5, 7.5, and 37.5 micrograms) induced an increase in milk leakage in 5 cows. This effect could be antagonized by the beta-blocking agent sotalol hydrochloride (0.5 to 4 mg) injected into the external pudic artery. In 1 cow, however, epinephrine given intra-arterially exerted a biphasic effect, small doses inducing stimulation, and large doses evoking inhibition of milk loss. The stimulating effects were blocked by sotalol (2 mg). The inhibiting effects were antagonized by the alpha-blocking agent prazosin (2 mg).