The lactose and neuraminlactose content of rat milk and mammary tissue

Abstract

Specific analyses of rat milk sugar revealed lactose and N-acetylneuraminyl-lactose. The latter showed multiple, interconvertible forms in certain paper-chromatographic systems. Mean lactose concentrations rose from 33.1μmol/ml at day 0 to 100μmol/ml at day 20 of lactation. Mean N-acetylneuraminyl-lactose concentrations rose from 7.1μmol/ml at day 0 to 25.9μmol/ml at day 4 and thereafter declined, decreasing to zero by day 20 of lactation. Similar data are given on the concentrations of these sugars in mammary tissue of rats. Neuraminyl-lactose was also detected in mouse mammary tissue.