Dietary fiber given during pregnancy may influence sow endocrinology and increase piglet BW gain during early lactation. The aim of the current study was to determine whether dietary fiber given to sows during late pregnancy induces endocrine changes that could modulate sow colostrum production and, thus, piglet performance. From d 106 of pregnancy until parturition, 29 Landrace×Large White nul...

On a phylogenetic scale of organ development the mammary gland is a recent acquisition. It was introduced 200 million years ago with the appearance of mammals to provide nourishment to the newborn in the form of milk. The mammary gland is characterized by a unique dependence on hormonal signals for terminal differentiation, which is attained only after pregnancy. At the time of birth, the anlag...

Colostrum provides newborn piglets with energy, immunoglobulins and growth, thereby playing an essential role in piglet survival. However, colostrum yield and composition are highly variable among sows. Some of the factors involved in this variability have been identified. The aim of the study was to confirm previous findings on a large number of animals and to investigate other potential facto...

There is growing interest directed toward understanding positive emotions, and maternal and romantic love are among the most desired and positive social experiences encountered. It is only now that we are beginning to understand not only their neurobiological and neurochemical regulation but also their beneficial health consequences. For example, around parturition, profound adaptations of the ...

A most important adaptation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of the newborn to the extrauterine environment is the development of a mucosal barrier against the pénétration of bacteria, viruses, and other environmental antigens, i.e., food proteins. The mechanisms of host défense at mucosal sites, both immunologie and nonimmunologic, are underdeveloped during the neonatal period and more so in...

Background: Breastfeeding behaviour is multifactorial, and a wide range of socio-cultural and physiological variables impact on a woman's decision and ability to breastfeed successfully. An association has been reported between maternal obesity and low breastfeeding rates. This is of public health concern because obesity is rising in women of reproductive age and the apparent association with i...

A short-term treatment with estradiol-17 beta and progesterone induced mammary gland growth and lactogenesis in non-pregnant ewes. These events normally occur during the second half of pregnancy. In order to compare the hormonal environment during the treatment to that during pregnancy, the concentrations of total estrogens (TE), progesterone (P4), glucocorticoids (G) and prolactin (Prl) in the...

INTRODUCTION SnoN (Ski novel protein; Skil – Mouse Genome Informatics) is a member of the Ski family of proteins that contains both prooncogenic and anti-oncogenic activities in human cancer (Deheuninck and Luo, 2009; Jahchan and Luo, 2010; Jahchan et al., 2010; Pan et al., 2009). It is a critical regulator of transforming growth factor- (TGF-) signaling (Deheuninck and Luo, 2009; Jahchan and...

Isolated nuclei of lactat ing mouse mammary gland were capable of supporting DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in vitro in presence of unmodified and mercurated CTP (Hg-CTP) at high ionic condition at 25°C. In presence of unmodified CTP, [H]UMP incorporation into RNA increased l inear ly upto 180 min. The kinetic pattern of the reaction and the rate of RNA synthesis were essential ly simi lar when CT...

Microvascular changes in the mammary gland in mice during pregnancy and lactation were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with a corrosion cast method, tvansmission e]eetron microscopy (TEM) and morphometry. By SEM, duct-associated capillary plexuses were sparsety distributed to branch into adipocytes during virgin period. With advance in pregnancy, both branches from the capMar...