Biomaterial Database

Human mammary gland function at the onset of lactation: medium-chain fatty acid synthesis. 1992

M L Spear, and J Bitman, and M Hamosh, and D L Wood, and D Gavula, and P Hamosh

Division of Neonatology, Medical Center of Delaware, Newark 19718.

The onset of medium-chain fatty acid synthesis in the human mammary gland was investigated. Colostrum and serum were collected from 31 healthy women and the fatty acid composition of total lipid was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Although colostrum/serum ratios for most fatty acids range from 0.7-2.4, very low levels of 10:0 and 12:0 were present in serum lipids as compared to much higher concentrations of these fatty acids in colostrum lipids (colostrum/serum ratio 16.23 and 17.11 for 10:0 and 12:0, respectively). We have previously found that medium-chain fatty acid levels are very low in prepartum mammary secretions (6-10 wk before term delivery) but are higher and similar in colostrum of women who deliver preterm (3-14 wk) or at full term. The data indicate that parturition, irrespective of length of pregnancy, is the trigger for medium-chain fatty acid synthesis in the human mammary gland.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007743	Labor, Obstetric	The repetitive uterine contraction during childbirth which is associated with the progressive dilation of the uterine cervix (CERVIX UTERI). Successful labor results in the expulsion of the FETUS and PLACENTA. Obstetric labor can be spontaneous or induced (LABOR, INDUCED).	Obstetric Labor
D007774	Lactation	The processes of milk secretion by the maternal MAMMARY GLANDS after PARTURITION. The proliferation of the mammary glandular tissue, milk synthesis, and milk expulsion or let down are regulated by the interactions of several hormones including ESTRADIOL; PROGESTERONE; PROLACTIN; and OXYTOCIN.	Lactation, Prolonged,Milk Secretion,Lactations, Prolonged,Milk Secretions,Prolonged Lactation,Prolonged Lactations
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D001940	Breast	In humans, one of the paired regions in the anterior portion of the THORAX. The breasts consist of the MAMMARY GLANDS, the SKIN, the MUSCLES, the ADIPOSE TISSUE, and the CONNECTIVE TISSUES.	Breasts
D003126	Colostrum	The thin, yellow, serous fluid secreted by the mammary glands during pregnancy and immediately postpartum before lactation begins. It consists of immunologically active substances, white blood cells, water, protein, fat, and carbohydrates.	Colostrums
D005227	Fatty Acids	Organic, monobasic acids derived from hydrocarbons by the equivalent of oxidation of a methyl group to an alcohol, aldehyde, and then acid. Fatty acids are saturated and unsaturated (FATTY ACIDS, UNSATURATED). (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Aliphatic Acid,Esterified Fatty Acid,Fatty Acid,Fatty Acids, Esterified,Fatty Acids, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acid,Aliphatic Acids,Acid, Aliphatic,Acid, Esterified Fatty,Acid, Saturated Fatty,Esterified Fatty Acids,Fatty Acid, Esterified,Fatty Acid, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acids
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man