In humans and other mammals, mammal glands are exocrine glands used to produce milk to feed young people.Like many living things, human mammary glands are derived from the Latin word "mamma", which means "breast".These glands exist in different forms in different mammals: for example, the breasts of humans and gorillas are located in the breasts, while ruminants such as cattle and sheep have breasts.In some species, men may also experience breastfeeding, which makes the topic of "men breastfeeding" an interesting focus in the medical and biology circles.
In some mammal species, male breastfeeding is not impossible, which has triggered many scientific pursuits and discussions.
The breastfeeding behavior of most mammals mainly occurs in females, especially women who have just become pregnant or have a short time after giving birth.Although men have breast tissue, they do not produce milk under normal circumstances.It is relatively rare for men to breastfeed, but under specific physiological or pathological conditions, such as certain hormonal disorders or specific diseases, milk secretion may also occur in male breasts.
The basic structure of the mammary gland is composed of alveoli, which are made up of cube cells that secrete milk and are surrounded by myoepithelial cells.When these acinars combine to form lobules, milk flows through the duct to the nipple, thus entering the mouth of the young.
"The basic structure of the mammary gland, derived from the sweat glands during evolution, can be understood as a highly specialized gland."
In various mammals, it is not uncommon for females to have complete breasts; however, male breast development is usually not as perfect as females.Generally speaking, the average male does not produce enough milk to breastfeed, which is mainly caused by the influence of estrogen and growth hormones.
The development of the mammary gland usually exists at the fetal stage, forming a preliminary catheter structure at birth.This process is affected by a variety of hormones, including progesterone, estrogen and prolactin.Although males' own breast tissue is degenerated in most cases, in some special cases, such as the imbalance between estrogen and other hormones, men can also exhibit breastfeeding behavior.
"The development of male breasts is affected by a variety of hormones, and their lactation ability is usually present in specific physiological states."
In addition, many examples show that in some species, the amount of breast glands in men is still insignificant compared to women.When conducting this research, scientists often observe hormonal changes in men under special circumstances, such as changes in the environment or physical condition of animals.
Why can men breastfeed in some cases?A hormone study shows that when estrogen levels in men are abnormally elevated, it may trigger hyperplasia in breast tissue, resulting in milk secretion in some men.This type of situation has been reported in academic research, including certain rodents and insects.
"This phenomenon not only makes us rethink the biological basis of male and female roles, but also triggers more discussions on breastfeeding behavior in nature."
Finally, we can’t help but think, with the advancement of science and the in-depth understanding of biological mechanisms, will we still witness the normalization of male breastfeeding in the future?