Changeover from signalling to energy-provisioning lipids during transition from colostrum to mature milk in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
Among the large placental mammals, ursids give birth to the most altricial neonates with the lowest neonatal:maternal body mass ratios. This is particularly exemplified by giant pandas. To examine whether there is compensation for the provision of developmentally important nutrients that other species groups may provide in utero, we examined changes in the lipids of colostrum and milk with time after birth in giant pandas. Lipids that are developmental signals or signal precursors, and those that are fundamental to nervous system construction, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and phosphatidylserines, appear early and then fall dramatically in concentration to a baseline at 20-30 days. The dynamics of lysophosphatidic acid and eicosanoids display similar patterns, but with progressive differences between mothers. Triglycerides occur at relatively low levels initially and increase in concentration until a plateau is reached at about 30 days. These patterns indicate an early provision of signalling lipids and their precursors, particularly lipids crucial to brain, retinal and central nervous system development, followed by a changeover to lipids for energy metabolism. Thus, in giant pandas, and possibly in all bears, lactation is adapted to provisioning a highly altricial neonate to a degree that suggests equivalence to an extension of gestation.
Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, 161, Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, Scotland, UK.
Tong
T
Zhang
Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, 161, Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, Scotland, UK.
David G
DG
Watson
Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, 161, Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, Scotland, UK.|Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, No. 12 Jichang Road, Guangzhou 510405, P.R. China.
Rong
R
Zhang
Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Panda Road, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610081, P.R. China.
Rong
R
Hou
Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, 1375 Panda Road, Northern Suburb, Chengdu, Sichuan Province 610081, P.R. China.
I Kati
IK
Loeffler
Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, and Institute of Molecular Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK.
Malcolm W
MW
Kennedy
D000818:Animals; D003126:Colostrum / Q000378:metabolism*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D007774:Lactation; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D001503:Ursidae / Q000378:metabolism*
D008055:Lipids