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Glucose and lactate kinetics and interrelations in an antarctic bird (emperor penguin).

The isotope single-injection method was used to investigate the glucose and lactate kinetics and the interrelationships between the glucose and lactate pools in fasting emperor penguins. In these remarkably fast-resistant birds, mean lactate concentration, replacement rate, pool, space, and transit time were 1.5 mmol.1-1,53 mumol.min-1.kg-1, 900 mumol.kg-1, 60% of body mass, and 17 min, respectively. Mean glucose concentration, replacement rate, pool, space, and transit time were 20 mmol.1-1, 23 mumol.min-1.kg-1, 4,300 mumol.kg-1, 24% of body mass, and 196 min, respectively. Maximum conversions of lactate into glucose and of glucose into lactate were 29 +/- 2.9% and 75.5 +/- 4.2%, respectively, which indicates that lactate is an effective gluconeogenic precursor and a major fate of glucose metabolism in fasting penguins. The lactate replacement rate and incorporation into glucose were related to the plasma lactate concentration, which suggests that the rate of formation of glucose from lactate is dependent on the availability of lactate. The glucose replacement rate and reduction into lactate were related with the plasma glucose concentration, suggesting that the rate of lactate formation from glucose is dependent on the plasma glucose concentration. These data suggest that in the fasting emperor penguin glucose and lactate availability is capable of regulating the rate at which these substrates are utilized and interconverted. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence for such regulatory capacities in birds.

Animals↗

Poor relationship between arterial [lactate] and leg net release during exercise at 4,300 m altitude.

We evaluated the hypotheses that on acute exposure to hypobaric hypoxia, sympathetic stimulation leads to augmented muscle lactate production and circulating [lactate] through a beta-adrenergic mechanism and that beta-adrenergic adaptation to chronic hypoxia is responsible for the blunted exercise lactate response after acclimatization to altitude. Five control and 6 beta-blocked men were studied during rest and exercise at sea level (SL), on acute exposure to 4,300 m (A1), and after a 3-wk sojourn at altitude (A2). Exercise was by leg cycling at 49% of SL peak O2 consumption (VO2 peak) (65% of altitude VO2 peak or 87 +/- 2.6 W); beta-blockade was by propranolol (80 mg 3x daily), femoral arterial and venous blood was sampled; leg blood flow (Q) was measured by thermodilution, leg lactate net release [ = (2) (1-leg Q) venous-arterial concentrationL] was calculated, and vastus lateralis needle biopsies were obtained. Muscle [lactate] increased with exercise and acute altitude exposure but regressed to SL values with acclimatization; beta-blockade had no effect on muscle [lactate]. Arterial [lactate] rose during exercise at SL (0.9 +/- 0.1 to 1.5 +/- 0.3 mM); exercise at A1 produced the greatest arterial [lactate] (4.4 +/- 0.8 mM), and exercise at A2 an intermediate response (2.1 +/- 0.6 mM). beta-Blockade reduced circulating [lactate] approximately 45% during exercise under all altitude conditions. increased transiently at exercise onset but then declined over time under all conditions. Blood and muscle "lactate paradoxes" occurred independent of beta-adrenergic influences, and the hypotheses relating the blood lactate response at altitude to beta-adrenergic mechanisms are rejected. During exercise at altitude, arterial [lactate] is determined by factors in addition to hypoxemia, circulating epinephrine, and net lactate release from active muscle beds.

Acclimatization↗

Peritubular uptake of lactate by Thamnophis proximal tubule.

Lactate is absorbed in the proximal tubule and also enters tubular cells at the peritubular membrane. To characterize peritubular lactate entry, lactate uptake was measured in isolated nonperfused proximal tubules. Tubules were dissected and incubated in Ringer solution with L(+)-[U-14C]lactate and 3H2O. After incubation, the tubules were extracted, and the extracts were assayed for 14C and 3H or were chromatographed to determine the percentage of tubule 14C identifiable as lactate. Maximal steady-state tubular fluid-to-bath lactate concentration ratios (TF/B lactate) occurred by 30-60 min incubation at 25 degrees C. In 30 min, one-third of the tubules established a TF/B lactate ratio greater than 1.00, and 61.4 +/- 18.6% of tubule 14C was lactate. There was no difference in TF/B lactate ratio in proximal and distal proximal segments. Uptake was depressed at 5 degrees C. Mersalyl at 10(-4) M increased the TF/B lactate ratio and tubule water content. Probenecid at 7.5-30 x 10(-4) M also increased the TF/B lactate ratio. Distal proximal tubules incubated with [3H]PAH showed a control TF/B para-aminohippurate (PAH) ratio of approximately 30, but with 10(-4) M mersalyl the TF/B PAH ratio was approximately 1.00. Lactate uptake at the peritubular membrane occurs against an electrochemical gradient, independently from the PAH transport mechanism.

Animals↗

Lactate-sodium cotransport in rat renal brush border membranes.

Brush border membrane vesicles were obtained from rat kidney cortex through a calcium precipitation method and their transport properties for lactate were studied by a rapid-filtration technique. Transient concentrative uptake of L-lactate was observed in the presence of inwardly directed NaCl gradient, but not in the presence of a KCl, LiCl, RbCl, CsCl, or choline chloride gradient. The sodium-dependent L-lactate uptake was saturable and was inhibited by D-lactate. The activation curve with sodium was hyperbolic. Maneuvers that render the inside of the vesicle more negative stimulated sodium-dependent L-lactate uptake, suggesting an electrogenic transfer of L-lactate and sodium. An L-lactate gradient also accelerates the sodium movement across the brush border membrane. Studies on the pH dependency of L-lactate transport and on the effect of L-lactate on proton movements across the brush border membrane indicate that there is little contribution of nonionic diffusion and/or of lactate-H+ cotransport to the transfer of L-lactate across the renal brush border membrane. In summary, sodium-lactate cotransport is the major mechanism for L-lactate transfer across the renal brush border membrane.

Animals↗

Lactate genesis by rat liver and muscle during development.

Lactate has been shown to be an important fuel for brain metabolism during early postnatal development (1). In an attempt to identify the source(s) of lactate in the postnatal rat, we have studied the in vitro catabolism of glucose, galactose, fructose, alanine, glycerol, and octanoate in liver and muscle minces prepared from suckling rat pups. Whereas galactose, fructose, and octanoate were found to be lactagenic (lactate generating) in liver, glucose was the sole lactate precursor in muscle. Galactose was most effective as a hepatic lactate source at 3 d of age. Thereafter, the production of lactate from galactose decreased to reach control levels by 15 d of age. In contrast, fructose or octanoate were lactagenic throughout development. Lactate formation from galactose was completely halted by iodoacetate, inhibited by high galactose concentrations, and suppressed by fasting. The absence of oxygen increased lactate production from either fructose or octanoate, but it did not affect lactagenesis from galactose. Muscle minces produced lactate from glucose in an age-dependent manner similar to the development pattern of lactate formation from galactose by liver. Because lactose-derived galactose is readily available during suckling, it is suggested that galactose-based hepatic lactagenesis serves a unique role in maintaining the supply of lactate during early postnatal development. This hepatic capability may augment glucose-based muscle lactate synthesis at a time when lactate is a major brain fuel.

Aging↗

Prolactin gene expression and secretion during pregnancy and lactation in the rat: role of dopamine and vasoactive intestinal peptide.

It is known that dopamine (DA) is the major PRL-inhibiting factor, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is one of the most potent and physiological PRL-releasing factors. We have investigated the implication of DA and VIP in PRL gene expression and peptide secretion regulation during the physiological hyperprolactinemic states of pregnancy and lactation. Pregnant rats were studied on days 8, 15, and 20 of pregnancy. Lactating rats suckled by eight pups were studied on days 3 and 8 of postpartum, and nonsuckling postpartum rats were used as controls. Plasma estradiol, progesterone, and PRL were measured by RIA, as well as pituitary immunoreactive (IR-) PRL, pituitary IR-VIP, and hypothalamic IR-VIP. DA was studied by measuring changes in gene expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis. TH, PRL, and VIP messenger RNA (mRNA) were assessed by Northern blot hybridization. The results showed very high plasma PRL levels in early pregnancy and during lactation, whereas plasma PRL concentrations were normalized at the end of gestation and in nonsuckling control rats. The physiological hyperprolactinemia of both early pregnancy and lactation correlated with higher pituitary PRL mRNA levels and lower pituitary IR-PRL content. Moreover, hypothalamic TH mRNA levels were lower in early pregnancy and lactation than at the end of gestation and in nonsuckling rats, respectively. The hypothalamic IR-VIP content was lower on day 8 of pregnancy than on days 15 and 20. However, VIP gene expression in the hypothalamus did not change throughout pregnancy. During lactation, neither hypothalamic IR-VIP content nor VIP mRNA was significantly altered. In the pituitary, IR-VIP content did not significantly change, and VIP mRNA levels were higher on day 15 of pregnancy than on the other days. During lactation, the pituitary IR-VIP content was very low on day 8 compared with those on day 3 of lactation and in nonsuckling control rats. VIP mRNA 1.0-kilobase transcript levels were higher in the lactating rats than in the control animals. These data show that both early pregnancy and lactation are physiological hyperprolactinemic states in which increased PRL mRNA accumulation coincides with decreased IR-PRL content in the pituitary and higher plasma IR-PRL, indicating regulation at the gene expression level and of PRL secretion. Low TH gene expression also occurs during hyperprolactinemia, suggesting that the diminution of DA activity that occurs during early pregnancy and lactation might be the major regulator of PRL alterations. If hypothalamic VIP plays a role as a neuroendocrine PRL-releasing factor during pregnancy and lactation, this may occur at the secretory level, as suggested by the alterations in IR-VIP, with no modifications in VIP mRNA accumulation, in the hypothalamus. Pituitary VIP does not seem to be a major regulator of PRL secretion during pregnancy, whereas during lactation, it regulates PRL secretion in a paracrine and/or autocrine manner.

Animals↗

Effects of calcium supplementation on calcium homeostasis and bone turnover in lactating women.

Lactation is a time of calcium flux, because women secrete approximately 210 mg calcium/day in breast milk, and they experience a transient bone loss. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of calcium supplementation on adaptive responses in calcium homeostasis during lactation and after weaning. Two cohorts of women participated in a 6-month randomized calcium supplementation trial. Lactation cohort women (97 lactating, 99 nonlactating) were studied during the first 6 months post partum, and weaning cohort women (95 lactating, 92 nonlactating) were studied during the second 6 months post partum. Lactating women in the weaning cohort weaned approximately 1.5 months after enrollment. PTH was 18-30% lower in lactating than in nonlactating women (P < 0.01). Serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D was 11-16% higher in lactating than in nonlactating women and remained elevated for approximately 1.5 months after weaning (P = 0.06). Calcium supplementation decreased serum PTH and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in lactating and nonlactating women similarly. At 6 months, the calciuric response to calcium supplementation was less in lactating (compared with nonlactating) women (P = 0.06). Biomarkers of bone turnover were higher in lactating than in nonlactating women during lactation and after weaning but were not effected by calcium supplementation. Calcium supplementation has little effect on lactation-induced changes in the calcium economy.

Adult↗

[Influence of long-term lactation on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced rat mammary tumor (author's transl)].

Female rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain were mated 60 days after a single intravenous injection with 5 mg of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. In order to maintain the lactation for more than 3 weeks, 5 pups (5 to 10 days old) were attached to each mother rat throughout the experiment. Experimental rats were divided into 6 groups: 1. non-lactation (4 rats); 2. 3-week lactation (8 rats); 3. 6-week lactation (10 rats); 4. 8-week lactation (7 rats); 5. 12-week lactation (9 rats); and 6. 17-week lactation (4 rats). Lactating condition was judged from the body weight curves of the 5 pups. The appearance, number and diameter of tumors were recorded every day. The average of the tumor induction time was 140+/-74 days. The tumors were divided into 3 types: 1. progressive; 2. static; and 3. regressive. During pregnancy few tumors of the regressive type were noted. However, tumors of the progressive type increased significantly with the weeks of pregnancy. In the first week postpartum, although the total number of tumors was approximately the same as in the last week of pregnancy, the tumors of the progressive type decreased significantly and the tumors of the regressive type increased. In this period most tumors showed a tendency to regress. In the non-lactating group, the tumors of the progressive type began to increase from the fifth to seventh week postpartum without relation to the lactating period (3 to 17 weeks). Vaginal smears were examined every day in all mother rats to determine the recurrence of the estrous cycle. The first estrus appeared 7 days on an average after delivery in the non-lactating group; 27 days on an average in the 3-week lactation group; and 35 to 38 days on an average in the 6- to 17-week lactation groups. Under the condition of high prolactin level, the behavior of the tumors of the progressive type seemed to be related to estrogen. This was also supported by histological findings in the ovaries.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Differential expression of milk protein genes during lactation in the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).

In the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) lactation lasts for 200 days and consists of two distinct phases. Milk composition changes dramatically between phase 2 and 3, which correspond to early and late lactation respectively (phase 1 corresponds to pregnancy). RNA expression patterns have been established for eight major milk protein genes throughout lactation in possum mammary glands. The levels of mRNA expressed from two genes, encoding the early and late lactation proteins, were differentially regulated during lactation, with peak RNA levels occurring in phase 2 and 3 of lactation respectively. Expression of these two RNA transcripts did not overlap, and neither gene was expressed at significant levels between days 116 to 125, suggesting that the transition from phase 2 to phase 3 of lactation occurs at this time. The level of lysozyme, alpha-lactalbumin and trichosurin mRNA increased in phase 3 of lactation, whereas the levels of beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-casein and beta-casein mRNA remained constant throughout lactation. In the non-suckled gland, expression of milk protein genes was greatly reduced by day 6 of lactation. In conclusion, the early and late lactation protein genes are good markers for phase 2 and 3 of lactation, with the transition between these phases occurring around day 120 of lactation in the possum.

Animals↗

Factors affecting the shape of lactation curves of Holstein cows from the Balikesir Province of Turkey.

The shape of the lactation curve for 475 Turkish Holsteins was estimated by fitting a gamma function to daily milk yields from monthly recording of 754 lactations. Lactation curve traits that were analyzed included a scaling factor associated with yield at the beginning of lactation, the inclining and declining slopes before and after peak yield, DIM at peak yield, and peak and lactation yields. Persistency of lactation yield was measured from 1) the gamma function, 2) the coefficient of variation for monthly test-day yields, and 3) the ratio of lactation yield to peak yield. The log-transformed gamma function explained 71% of variation in daily yield. Effects of farm operation, calving year, calving season, parity, and service period were significant for the various lactation curve traits. Peak and lactation yields were higher for cows that calved in fall and winter, and persistency was higher for cows that calved in summer and fall. Peak and lactation yields were lower, but persistency was higher during first lactation. Repeatability estimates were moderate for peak (0.26) and lactation (0.34) yields and lower (0.06 to 0.20) for other lactation curve traits.

Analysis of Variance↗

Effect of a direct-fed fibrolytic enzyme formulation on nutrient intake, partitioning, and excretion in early and late lactation Holstein cows.

The effect of a fibrolytic enzyme formulation on N and P intake, partitioning, and excretion was evaluated in dairy cows in early and late lactation. Twelve lactating Holstein cows (6 early lactation, 6 late lactation) were fed diets with or without the enzyme formulation in a switchback design with three, 4-wk periods. Diets for the early lactation group contained 45% forage, and late lactation diets contained 61% forage. Cows fed diets containing the enzyme formulation gained more weight than those on the control diet; this weight gain with enzyme addition was greater in early lactation cows than in late lactation cows. The main effect of enzyme treatment did not significantly affect apparent digestibility or excretion of N and P, or retention of these nutrients in body tissue. Interactions observed between the effects of group (stage of lactation) and treatment indicated differences in the nature of the milk yield and manure excretion responses to enzyme treatment between early and late lactation cows. These interactions were due to numerical increases in milk yield, feces excretion, and N excretion in early lactation cows fed diets containing the enzyme formulation compared to control, and slight decreases in these measures in late lactation cows with enzyme addition. Cows fed diets containing a direct-fed fibrolytic enzyme formulation had increased body weight gain, but the effect of addition of the enzyme formulation on milk yield and manure nutrient excretion differed for early and late lactation cows.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

Effect of pregnancy and extended lactation on milk production in dairy goats milked once daily.

Thirty multiparous Murciano-Granadina dairy goats milked once daily were used to study the lactational effects of an extended 24-mo kidding interval (K24; n = 14) compared with the traditional 12-mo kidding interval (K12; n = 16). Goats were divided into 2 groups at wk 29 of lactation balanced with respect to parity, milk yield, and somatic cell count. Over a period of 92 wk, K12 goats were mated twice, at wk 29 during the first lactation and at wk 79 during the second lactation, whereas K24 goats were mated once, at wk 79 of extended first lactation. The K12 goats were dried off from wk 14 to 21 of pregnancy (wk 43 to 50 of lactation). Milk yield was recorded from wk 2 to 92, and milk composition was studied from wk 29 to 92. Milk fatty acids were analyzed in milk samples taken at wk 39 (wk 10 of pregnancy) and 55 (wk 5 of subsequent lactation), when milk in udder compartments (cisternal and alveolar) was also evaluated. Average milk yield during the first 29 wk was 2.23 +/- 0.13 L/d. Pregnancy reduced milk yield in K12 goats from wk 39 to 42 of lactation compared with K24 goats. During the dry period for K12 goats, milk yield of K24 goats averaged 1.53 +/- 0.10 L/d. From wk 51 to 79, K12 goats produced 32% more milk than did K24 goats, but their milk contained lower fat and protein than that of K24 goats. No changes were detected for milk lactose and somatic cell count from wk 51 to 79. From wk 80 to 92, differences in milk yield and milk composition between groups were not significant. Milk of pregnant K12 goats contained higher C16:1 and conjugated C18:2 fatty acids, and had a higher desaturase index than milk of open K24 goats at wk 39. In the following lactation (wk 55), milk of K12 goats contained higher C18:2 and C18:3, and lower C16:0 fatty acids, resulting in a lower atherogenicity index compared with K24 goats. Cisternal milk at wk 39 was lower for K12 than K24 goats, whereas alveolar milk did not differ. In K12 goats, values of cisternal milk tripled, but alveolar milk only doubled at wk 55 (wk 5 of subsequent lactation) compared with wk 39, indicating the importance of the cistern in accommodating high milk yield in early lactation. Values of cisternal and alveolar milk did not differ between wk 39 and 55 for K24 goats. Fat content was higher for alveolar milk than cisternal milk for K12 goats at wk 55 and for K24 goats at wk 39 and 55. No differences in milk protein or lactose were detected between cisternal and alveolar milk. In conclusion, pregnancy reduced milk yield from wk 10 after conceiving onwards. Extended lactation did not significantly decrease milk yield (-8.2%), but increased milk components that may contribute to cheese yield, and may be a useful strategy for reducing metabolic stress in early lactation and for simplifying herd management in dairy goats.

Animals↗

Genetic relationship between first-lactation body energy and later-life udder health in dairy cattle.

Weekly body condition score (BCS) and live weight records were used to calculate energy content (EC) and cumulative effective energy balance (CEEB) for 508 Holstein-Friesian cows in their first lactation. Cows were raised on an experimental farm and had calved between 1991 and 2000. Energy content was an estimate of the actual energy level of a cow at any given stage of lactation, whereas CEEB was associated with the total body energy content as defined by accumulated weekly energy balance changes since the onset of lactation. Genetic evaluations were computed for the 3 body energy traits (BCS, EC, and CEEB) for each week of first lactation. Random regression models were used to assess the association between first-lactation weekly genetic evaluations for body energy and monthly test-day log-transformed SCC, clinical mastitis, and other udder problems in the first 3 lactations. There was a significant effect of at least one body energy trait at any stage of first lactation past wk 3 on SCC in the first 3 lactations. Maximum genetic correlation estimates were -0.18 (+/-0.04) between wk-16 BCS and SCC in the first 2 lactations, -0.18 (+/-0.04) between wk-11 EC and SCC in the first 2 lactations, and -0.17 (+/-0.07) between wk-6 CEEB and SCC in the first 2 lactations. The effect of body energy traits on clinical mastitis was, in general, nonsignificant; nevertheless, moderate genetic correlations were estimated, ranging from -0.05 (+/-0.07) to -0.25 (+/-0.15). The effect of body energy traits on udder problems other than mastitis was negligible in all cases. Results suggest that, amongst the traits studied here, BCS, EC, and CEEB in the first 3 to 4 mo of lactation 1 had the greatest genetic association with SCC and mastitis in first, second, and, to a lesser extent, third lactations.

Animals↗

Associations among progeny tests of single or pooled lactations.

Genetic correlations between Predicted Difference for first and second, first and third, and second and third lactations milk were .82, .62, and .94 and for Predicted Difference percent fat .94 for the three associations. Regression coefficients for following on previous lactation Predicted Difference were less than unity; thus, Predicted Difference from first lactation might be overweighted when age adjusted and pooled with second and third lactations. Regressions of Predicted Difference milk of sons on sires for first, second, third, and pooled lactation records were .32 +/- 18, .42 +/- .21, .56 +/- .31, .35 +/- .15, and intraclass correlations between half brothers were .09 +/- .08, .28 +/- .11, .25 +/- .11, and .12 +/- 10. Predicted Differences for second and third lactations were, thus, near the theoretical expectation of .5 and .25 for regressions of son on sire and between half-brother correlations but lower for Predicted Differences of first and pooled lactations. Variance of Predicted Difference of first lactation between sires of sons was small compared with the variance of sons within sires. It was postulated that effective selection on the sire-to-sire path on Predicted Difference of first lactation had reduced predictability on the sire-to-sire improvement path. An interaction of sire by number of lactations may be inferred from the incomplete genetic correlations between Predicted Differences of first and following lactations and from the reduction in the variance between sire in first but not in later lactations. Progeny tests of single lactation seem warranted for the production profile of dairy sires.

Animals↗

Bovine somatotropin dose titration in lactating dairy ewes. 2. Dose determination and factors affecting the response.

Seventy-four lactating dairy ewes were injected with recombinant bovine somatotropin (bst; sometribove) in a sustained-release formulation. Ewes received 0, 80, 160, or 240 mg of bST/14 d from wk 3 to 8 of lactation (part 1) and 0, 80, or 160 mg of bST/14 d from wk 11 to 18 of lactation (part 2). The optimal dose of bST was studied as well as the factors (lactation stage, lactation number, initial milk production, body weight, and body condition) possibly affecting the increase in milk production following bST injection. Using a quadratic regression model, the maximum theoretical dose was determined to be 181 mg of bST/14 d during the first part of lactation. During the second part of lactation, 143 mg of bST/14 d was the maximum theoretical dose. The increment of milk production did not vary with lactation number, but first lactation ewes, in general, responded better than did multiparous ewes. Relative to initial milk production, improvement was greatest for ewes with average milk production (1500 ml/d) that received a dose of 192.3 mg of bST/14 d during the first part of lactation; improvement was also measured from the highest producers (2000 ml/d) during the second part of lactation. The best response was obtained from ewes with average body condition (score 3 on a five-point scale where 1 = thin to 5 = fat) and a dose of 200 mg of bST/14 d during the first part of lactation; during the second part of lactation, body condition score had no effect. Body weight had no effect on the increment of production at any time.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

Weight loss during prolonged lactation in rural Bangladeshi mothers.

To determine the duration of lactation which is associated with weight loss in rural Bangladeshi mothers and also to determine the relationship with consumption patterns of principal food items, a cross-sectional study was carried out among 791 lactating rural Bangladeshi mothers aged 18-40 years. Results were compared with 333 non-pregnant and non-lactating mothers of a similar age group. The duration of lactation was up to 60 months. The mean difference in body-weight and body mass index (BMI) of lactating mothers who breastfed their children up to 24 months was significantly lower compared to non-lactating mothers of the same age group, but no differences were observed for those who breastfed beyond 24 months. The frequency of consumption of principal food items was comparable between the non-lactating and the lactating mothers who breastfed beyond 24 months. Results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that body-weight of mothers was negatively correlated with 1-12 month(s) and 13-24 months of lactation after controlling for height, education, and food consumption (slope -1.04, p<0.05 and slope -1.23, p<0.05 respectively). Height and consumption of meat and milk were significantly positively correlated with body-weight (slope 0.53, p<0.001; slope 1.44, p<0.001; and slope 0.75, p<0.05 respectively). The study concluded that Bangladeshi women who breastfed up to 24 months were of lower weight than non-lactating mothers, most likely due to the effect of lactation. These mothers were not taking any additional foods during their lactating period. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that mothers consume additional energy-rich foods during the first 24 months of lactation to prevent weight loss.

Adolescent↗

Lactation-induced changes in calcium handling by rat pancreatic islets.

Glucose-stimulated insulin release occurred at a lower rate in pancreatic islets removed from lactating than non-lactating rats. This defect was corrected in the presence of either gliclazide or a calcium-agonist. With both agents present, insulin release from islets of lactating rats was greater. When islets were prelabelled with 45calcium, gliclazide stimulated to the same extent 45Ca outflow in islets from lactating and non-lactating rats, respectively. However, when the islets were prelabelled with 45Ca in the presence of gliclazide, the administration of Ba2+ increased effluent radioactivity more markedly in islets from non-lactating than lactating rats. This suggests that lactation favours, in gliclazide-stimulated islets, the sequestration of 45Ca in non-labile subcellular pools. When D-glucose was used instead of Ba2+, the greater lability of 45Ca in islets from non-lactating animals was apparently masked by a lesser efficiency in the metabolism and cationic effects of D-glucose in the non-lactating rats. The calcium-ionophoretic effect of islet extracts was higher in lactating than non-lactating rats. These results support the view that a depletion of endogenous calcium stores accounts, in part at least, for the decreased insulin secretory responsiveness to D-glucose in lactation, since the latter apparently favours the function of those systems involved in either the entry of calcium into or its sequestration within the islet cells.

Animals↗

Lactate transport in macrophages.

Macrophages perform phagocytic and effector activities in a number of different tissues. The environment of the inflammatory foci in which they function is often acidic and contains an abundance of lactate. We characterized the ability of thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages to accumulate lactate from the medium and to use this lactate to maintain intracellular energy stores. Lactate uptake was stereospecific for L-lactate and was inhibited by the organic anion transport blocker probenecid but not by concentrations of 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid that block anion exchangers. L-[14C]Lactate uptake was not affected by variation of the extracellular Na+ concentration but was enhanced by acidification of the extracellular medium, suggesting that lactate uptake was mediated by a proton cotransport system. The enhanced accumulation of [14C]-lactate seen in medium at pH 6.0 to 6.5 was inhibited by probenecid or by an excess of unlabeled L-lactate. When macrophages were incubated in PBS without glucose for 6 h, intracellular stores of phosphocreatine were 13 nmol/mg of protein, compared with 44 nmol/mg of protein in cells incubated in medium containing glucose. When lactate was substituted for glucose, phosphocreatine stores were 32 nmol/mg of protein. These studies reveal that macrophages take up L-lactate in a pH-dependent manner and that lactate uptake occurs via a probenecid-inhibitable monocarboxylate transporter; they suggest that macrophages can utilize this lactate as an energy source.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗