›› 2012, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (6): 689-.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2012.06.001

• Original article (Basic research) •     Next Articles

Mechanism of lactogenic effect of Medulla Tetrapanacis in lactation

ZHENG Tao1,2, YANG Zu-jing2, QIAN Lin-xi1   

  1. 1.Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China;2.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xinghua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
  • Online:2012-06-28 Published:2012-07-02
  • Supported by:

    National Natural Science Foundation of China, 81000242, 30772270, 30972427;Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China;Shanghai Science and Technology Committee Foundation,11QA1405400;Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau Foundation,2010Y157;Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 11DZ2260500

Abstract:

Objective To explore the mechanism of lactogenic effect of Medulla Tetrapanacis in lactation, and investigate the effect of Medulla Tetrapanacis on the composition of latex. Methods Sixteen ICR dams were divided into negative control group (n=8) and Medulla Tetrapanacis treatment group (n=8) after delivery. Intragastric administration of 0.25 mL Medulla Tetrapanacis extract of dams was conducted daily in Medulla Tetrapanacis treatment group, and the same amount of normal saline was given in negative control group. The amount of latex and the contents of protein and lactose in latex were compared between two groups, and serum prolactin levels of mice were measured by ELISA. Mouse HC11 mammary epithelial cells were treated by different doses of Medulla Tetrapanacis extract (low dose Medulla Tetrapanacis treatment group,high dose Medulla Tetrapanacis treatment group and control group), fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR was employed to detect the expression of β-casein and lactalbumin mRNA in mammary epithelial cells,and the expression of β-casein, STAT5 protein and phosphorylated STAT5 protein was determined by Western blotting. Results The amount of latex on the 1st, 3rd,8th, 13th and 18th day of lactation in Medulla Tetrapanacis treatment group was higher than that in negative control group. The mass concentration of protein in latex of mice in Medulla Tetrapanacis treatment group (119.567 μg/mL) was significantly higher than that in negative control group (100.562 μg/mL)(P<0.05), while the concentration of lactose in Medulla Tetrapanacis treatment group (53.072 mmol/L)was significantly lower than that in negative control group (63.290 mmol/L)(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the prolactin levels on the 1st, 3rd,8th and 13th day of lactation between Medulla Tetrapanacis treatment group and negative control group (P>0.05). The expression of β-casein and lactalbumin mRNA in mammary epithelial cells in low dose Medulla Tetrapanacis treatment group and high dose Medulla Tetrapanacis treatment group was higher than that in control group. The expression of phosphorylated STAT5 protein in mammary epithelial cells was the lowest in control group, and that was the highest in high dose Medulla Tetrapanacis treatment group. Conclusion Medulla Tetrapanacis can increase the phosphorylation of STAT5 protein and promote the prolactin signaling transduction in mammary epithelial cells, which results in the increase of latex amount and protein content.

Key words: Medulla Tetrapanacis, mammary epithelial cells, lactogenesis