55 Sow Milk Lipidome Study Reveals Changes in Fatty Acyl Residues in Triglycerides and Phosphatidylglycerol, but Not in Plasma Membrane Phospholipids Across Lactation. (7th May 2021) - Luecke, Sarah
Abstract: Sow milk fat content is crucial to neonatal survival, as it is utilized for thermogenesis and nutrition. However, fat is the most variable component of milk in concentration and lipid species. Characterizing lipid changes across the course of a sow's lactation may help identify molecules or systems to target to help enhance milk fat quality and quantity for neonatal survival and growth. Percent fat variation is greatest in colostrum, the first milk. Little is known regarding colostrum synthesis, other than it accumulates in the gland beginning in mid-late pregnancy, which is prior to the initiation of fatty acid synthesis in lactocytes. The objective of this study was to characterize changes in lipid composition of milk across the course of lactation and determine if there was a relationship between fat percent and lipid species in colostrum and mature milk. Milk was collected from 9 multiparous sows on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 relative to birth. Percent fat was determined by creamatocrit, and found to be different (p< 0.05) between day 0 (12.36 ± 5.90%) and day 3 (16.22 ± 3.65%) but not between day 7 (13.13 ± 2.19%) and 14 (12.13 ± 2.45%). Fat was extracted from milk using the Bligh-Dyer method and profiled using multiple reaction monitoring. Amounts of lipid species were calculated relative to standards and data analysis was performed using Metaboanalyst 4.0. Principle component analysis revealed lactation day had a significant effect on distribution of fats. Triacylglycerides (TAG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and plasma membrane lipids were modified from colostrum to mature milk, with a significant increase in PGs and TAGs across the course of lactation. Correlation analysis of percent fat with lipid concentration indicated strong relationships (P < 0.05; |r| >0.80) with eight lipids. No differences are found in the abundance of plasma membrane phospholipids, sphingomyelin, or cholesterol esters across lactation days.