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Effects of compensatory growth on milk protein gene expression and mammary differentiation
Author(s) -
Park Chung S.,
Choi Yun J.,
Keller Wanda L.,
Harrold Robert L.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2.10.2454864
Subject(s) - weanling , messenger rna , biology , medicine , mammary gland , endocrinology , casein , compensatory growth (organ) , gene expression , rna , lactation , gene , protein biosynthesis , biochemistry , genetics , pregnancy , cancer , breast cancer , kidney
This experiment was conducted to develop an understanding of mechanisms responsible for effects of a compensatory (stair‐step) growth pattern on the expression of milk protein genes and mammary differentiation. One hundred thirty weanling female rats were randomly assigned to either a control or a test group (compensatory growth). Early lactating mammary tissues from the compensatory growth group showed an increase in the RNA:DNA ratio, protein:DNA ratio, DNA, RNA, and protein while exhibiting a decrease in the lipid content as compared with those of the control group (2.2, 1.6, 1.7, 3.8, 2.8, and 0.5 times, respectively). Mammary tissues from the compensatory growth group contained about 1.1‐ to 1.4‐fold more total cytoplasmic mRNA for caseins and whey acidic protein than those of the control group. The compensatory growth pattern increased β‐casein mRNA accumulation, milk protein secretion, and amino acid uptake in mammary acinar culture (1.3, 1.3, and 1.1 times, respectively) compared with those of the control group. These results indicate that the compensatory growth pattern increases milk protein mRNA transcripts and may contribute to an increase in the functional activity of the mammary gland.—P ark , C. S.; C hoi , Y. J.; K eller , W. L.; H arrold , R. L. Effects of compensatory growth on milk protein gene expression and mammary differentiation. FASEB J. 2: 2619‐2624; 1988.