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Apoptosis in human breastmilk cells: a novel method to detect changes in the physiology of the lactating mammary gland
Author(s) -
Berry Clare A.,
Piper Kristin M.E.,
Trengove Naomi J.,
Dharmarajan Arun M.,
Cregan Mark D.
Publication year - 2007
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.21.5.a688-a
Subject(s) - apoptosis , mammary gland , lactation , breastfeeding , flow cytometry , andrology , programmed cell death , cell , breast milk , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , medicine , chemistry , immunology , pathology , biochemistry , pregnancy , cancer , breast cancer , genetics
Apoptosis is a form of physiological cell death that is important in tissue homeostasis. Human breastmilk is a novel model for the non‐invasive acquisition of mammary gland cells. Determining the degree of apoptosis in breastmilk cells is useful to ascertain the physiological state of the cells in breastmilk during milk removal. By detecting JC‐1 aggregates (a technique to measure apoptosis due to mitochondrial depolarisation) via flow cytometry, we have shown that early apoptosis can be detected in breastmilk cells. Up to 84.5% of breastmilk cells have shown to be undergoing apoptosis when compared to staurasporine treated cell line MCF‐7 (43.3%). This method was also applied to investigate breastmilk cells stored under different temperatures over 24h to identify the influences of breastmilk storage on cell viability. Results have shown that breastmilk stored at room temperature and processed within 6h of collection had low levels of cell apoptosis with the highest recoverable cell number when compared to breastmilk stored at 4 and 37 degrees Celsius. A significant (p<0.05) increase in cell number has been seen over the 24h period for cells stored at 37 degrees Celsius. In addition, degree of breast fullness and apoptosis was correlated among breastfeeding mothers with a significantly higher proportion of cells presenting early apoptosis in fore milk (20.4%) compared to mid milk (5.14%, p<0.05). Hind milk showed an average of 7.62% of cells in early apoptosis. This JC‐1 technique permits changes in the physiology of the lactating mammary gland to be measured, providing a tool for further studies investigating lactation difficulties and the success of milk removal. This study was funded by Medela AG.