title: Milk composition in the North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana).
abstract: The composition of milk samples collected from captive opossums (Didelphis virginiana) was determined at various intervals during lactation. The milk solids increased from 9% at week one to a maximum of 34% at 11 weeks post-partum. There were changes in the relative proportions of protein, lipid and carbohydrate at different stages of lactation. Lipid represented the greatest fraction of the solids except for a period at mid-lactation when there was a peak in protein concentration. The concentrations of sodium, potassium and magnesium were relatively constant, 41 +/- 4, 35 +/- 11 and 9.2 +/- 1.6 mmol respectively, although calcium increased from 13 +/- 5 mmol at week one to a peak of 112 +/- 35 mmol at 9 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Division of Wildlife and Ecology, CSIRO, Lyneham, Australia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Newgrain
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002151:Calorimetry; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009893:Opossums; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D008055:Lipids; D008894:Milk Proteins; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium