The regulation of substrate utilization

Monocarboxylate transporter genes in the mammary gland of lactating cows

This study is the first to examine the expression of the 14 monocarboxylate transporter genes (MCT1-MCT14) in the mammary gland of mammals. RT-PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence confocal laser microscopy were applied in a comprehensive approach to assess the expression and cellular localization of MCTs in the mammary gland of lactating cattle. RT-PCR revealed the existence of nine MCT isoforms, namely MCT1, MCT2, MCT3, MCT4, MCT5, MCT8, MCT10, MCT13, and MCT14 in cow mammary gland. The amplified cDNA segments were confirmed by sequence analysis and deposited in the GenBank. Using the commercially available antibodies against MCT1-MCT8, Western blotting verified the protein expression of MCT1, MCT2, MCT3, MCT4, MCT5, and MCT8 in the cow mammary gland. The precise cellular localization of the identified MCT proteins showed that both MCT1 and MCT2 were basolaterally localized on the cow mammary alveolar epithelial cells. In contrast, MCT4 protein signal was expressed on the apical membrane of these alveolar epithelia. MCT8, however, was predominantly localized on the basolateral membranes of the lactocytes, along with its weak labeling on the apical membrane of the same cells. No immunoreactive staining for MCT3 and MCT5 proteins could be detected histochemically in lactating bovine mammary tissue. Additionally, we proved the colocalization of CD147 with both MCT1 and MCT4 on the boundaries of the cow mammary alveolar epithelia. The existence and localization pattern of MCT genes in the mammary gland of lactating cows suggest their possible involvement in the transport of essential elements required for milk synthesis and secretion.

Mammary sensitivity to protein restriction and re-alimentation

The present study tested the influence of protein undernutrition and re-alimentation on mammary gland size and secretory cell activity in lactating rats. During gestation, female Sprague-Dawley rats were offered a high-protein diet (215 g crude protein (N x 6.25; CP)/kg DM; H); litters were standardized to twelve pups at parturition. During lactation, two diets were offered ad libitum, diet H and a low-protein diet (90 g CP/kg DM; L). Lactational dietary treatments were the supply ad libitum of either diet H (HHH) or diet L (LLL) for the first 12 d of lactation, or diet L transferring to diet H on either day 6 (LHH) or 9 (LLH) of lactation. On days 1, 6, 9 and 12 of lactation, rats from each group (n > or = 6) were used to estimate mammary dry mass, fat, protein, DNA and RNA; the activities of lactose synthetase (EC 2.4.1.22) enzyme and Na+,K(+)-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.37) were also measured. Rats offered a diet considered protein sufficient (H) from day 1 of lactation showed a decrease in mammary dry mass and fat but an increase in DNA, RNA and protein on day 6, after which there was no further change, except for mammary protein which continued to increase. However, rats offered diet L showed a steady loss in mammary mass and fat throughout the 12 d lactation period and no change in mammary DNA, RNA or protein. Rats previously protein restricted for either the first 6 or 9 d of lactation had their mammary dry mass and mammary fat loss halted and showed a rapid increase in mammary DNA, RNA and protein on re-alimentation. Lactose production in group HHH, as measured by lactose synthetase activity, was similar on days 1 and 6 of lactation, after which a significant increase was seen. Protein-restricted rats showed no change in lactose synthetase activity during the 12 d experimental period. Changing from diet L to diet H led to a significant increase in lactose synthetase activity to levels comparable with those offered diet H from day 1. These results show that rats offered a protein-restricted diet during lactation suffer mammary underdevelopment, but this may be rapidly reversed by re-alimentation with a high-protein diet.