Biomaterial Database

Developmental changes in composition of rat milk: trace elements, minerals, protein, carbohydrate and fat. 1981

C L Keen, and B Lönnerdal, and M Clegg, and L S Hurley

The concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, manganese, calcium and magnesium, as well as protein, carbohydrate and fat, were analyzed in rat milk during the course of lactation in rats fed a purified diet. As serial milking has been demonstrated to affect milk composition (1), lactating rats were milked only once at various times from days 0 to 28 after parturition. Concentration of iron decreased rapidly from 9 to 5 micrograms/ml during the 1st week of lactation and changed little thereafter. Similarly, copper concentration decreased considerably in early lactation, from 9 to 2 micrograms/ml, but then remained constant. Zinc concentration did not decrease during the 1st week of lactation, but dropped from 14 micrograms/ml in the 2nd week of lactation to 8-10 micrograms/ml in mature milk. Manganese was unique as its concentration decreased during the early days of lactation, from 0.3 to 0.1 microgram/ml, with a subsequent rise in late lactation back to 0.3 microgram/ml. Calcium and magnesium concentrations increased somewhat in early lactation and decreased slightly in later lactation, but the changes were fairly small as compared to the trace elements. Developmental patterns for protein, carbohydrate and fat were not very pronounced, although protein and carbohydrate increased somewhat in early lactation and later decreased. These data demonstrate that the nutrient intake of the suckling changes markedly during the early neonatal period. These changes should be taken into account in evaluating data on the trace element composition of tissues of suckling rats.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007501	Iron	A metallic element with atomic symbol Fe, atomic number 26, and atomic weight 55.85. It is an essential constituent of HEMOGLOBINS; CYTOCHROMES; and IRON-BINDING PROTEINS. It plays a role in cellular redox reactions and in the transport of OXYGEN.	Iron-56,Iron 56
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
D008274	Magnesium	A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and atomic weight 24.31. It is important for the activity of many enzymes, especially those involved in OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION.
D008345	Manganese	A trace element with atomic symbol Mn, atomic number 25, and atomic weight 54.94. It is concentrated in cell mitochondria, mostly in the pituitary gland, liver, pancreas, kidney, and bone, influences the synthesis of mucopolysaccharides, stimulates hepatic synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids, and is a cofactor in many enzymes, including arginase and alkaline phosphatase in the liver. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual 1992, p2035)
D008892	Milk	The off-white liquid secreted by the mammary glands of humans and other mammals. It contains proteins, sugar, lipids, vitamins, and minerals.	Cow Milk,Cow's Milk,Milk, Cow,Milk, Cow's
D008894	Milk Proteins	The major protein constituents of milk are CASEINS and whey proteins such as LACTALBUMIN and LACTOGLOBULINS. IMMUNOGLOBULINS occur in high concentrations in COLOSTRUM and in relatively lower concentrations in milk. (Singleton and Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed, p554)	Milk Protein,Protein, Milk,Proteins, Milk
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
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D003300	Copper	A heavy metal trace element with the atomic symbol Cu, atomic number 29, and atomic weight 63.55.	Copper-63,Copper 63
D005223	Fats	The glyceryl esters of a fatty acid, or of a mixture of fatty acids. They are generally odorless, colorless, and tasteless if pure, but they may be flavored according to origin. Fats are insoluble in water, soluble in most organic solvents. They occur in animal and vegetable tissue and are generally obtained by boiling or by extraction under pressure. They are important in the diet (DIETARY FATS) as a source of energy. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)