title: Early milk availability modulates the activity of choline acetyltransferase in the cerebral cortex of rats.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of milk in the early stage of lactation on the maturation of cholinergic neurons in the cerebral cortex of rats. Pups were removed from their mothers immediately following parturition and placed with foster dams at days 5-7 of lactation. At days 18 and 56 after birth, the activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), an enzyme responsible for acetylcholine synthesis, in different areas of the cerebral cortex was examined by high-performance liquid chromatography electrochemical detection. In the frontal and hindlimb/parietal regions of the cerebral cortex, the lack of early milk significantly decreased ChAT activity at days 18 and 56. There was no effect on gains in the body or brain weight of infants. ChAT activity in the occipital area tended to be lower in the early milk-deprived rats. The intake of early milk potentially contributes not only to nutrients for the growth of newborn infants, but also to the functional maturation of the cholinergic neurotransmission system in a region-specific manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sensui
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamuro
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D059329:Cholinergic Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase