title: Changes in milk carbohydrates during lactation in the common brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula (Marsupialia:Phalangeridae).
abstract: Milk samples (186) were obtained at various stages of lactation from 27 common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula). Qualitative and quantitative changes in the milk carbohydrates during early and mid-lactation were similar to those previously seen in other marsupials; the principal carbohydrate was lactose early in lactation and higher oligosaccharides in mid-lactation, and the hexose concentration reached a peak during mid-lactation. However, the late-lactation milk was unusual in that the carbohydrate was mainly lactose and its concentration remained relatively high (3.5 to 5.5%). In contrast to earlier findings on the milk of the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii), little or no nucleotide pyrophosphatase, beta-galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase activities were detected late in lactation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Sydney, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Crisp
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Messer
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis*; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005260:Female; D005643:Fucose / Q000032:analysis; D005690:Galactose / Q000032:analysis; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D006601:Hexoses / Q000032:analysis; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008892:Milk / Q000032:analysis*; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D009893:Opossums; D011247:Pregnancy; D011755:Pyrophosphatases / Q000032:analysis; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D006601:Hexoses; D012794:Sialic Acids; D005643:Fucose; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D011755:Pyrophosphatases; C021899:nucleotide pyrophosphatase; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D005947:Glucose; D005690:Galactose