Gel electrophoretic analysis of proteins in human milk and colostrum

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. B, Comparative biochemistry Vol. 86; no. 4; pp. 635 - 639
• Main Authors: Montgomery, Pamela A., Patton, Stuart, Huston, Gail E., Josephson, Ronald V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 1987; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; breast milk; colostrum; Colostrum - analysis; dairy protein; Delivery. Postpartum. Lactation; electrophoresis; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel - methods; Female; food analysis; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Lactation; Lactoferrin - analysis; Maternal, fetal and perinatal monitoring; Medical sciences; Milk Proteins - analysis; Milk, Human - analysis; Molecular Weight; Muramidase - analysis; Pregnancy; Human; Proteins; Lactation; Gel electrophoresis; Human milk; Colostrum; Puerperium; Milk
• ISSN: 0305-0491
• DOI: 10.1016/0305-0491(87)90202-1

1. 1. Protein patterns of skim milk and fat globule phases were relatively unchanging throughout 9 months lactation, the only notable differences being a rise in lysozyme and a decline up to 6 months with increase thereafter in lactoferrin. 2. 2. Profound changes in protein patterns of the breast secretion were observed during the first week postpartum. 3. 3. True colostrum, in which peptides of sIgA dominate the protein patterns, exists for at most the 2 initial days of secretion. 4. 4. Proteins of mature milk are not coordinated to appear in the colostral secretion simultaneously. A band corresponding to α-lactalbumin is present from the initial secretion; that for β-casein emerges approximately 2 days layer.