ASAS centennial paper: Lactation biology for the twenty-first century

Area of Science:

• * Mammary gland biology and lactation research.
• * Comparative physiology and genomics.

Background:

• * Decades-old knowledge of livestock mammary gland function exists.
• * Mouse models are now preferred for studying fundamental mammary mechanisms due to genomic and molecular biology advancements.
• * Genetic modification techniques in mice allow in-depth study of gene function in mammary development and lactation.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To bridge the knowledge gap between rodent mammary studies and livestock applications.
• * To explore advanced methodologies for understanding livestock lactation biology.
• * To identify future research directions for optimizing livestock production through mammary gland research.

Main Methods:

• * Utilizing mouse models for in vivo gene function studies (overexpression, knockout).
• * Employing mammary-specific promoters for tissue-specific gene manipulation.
• * Exploring in vitro mammary cell culture models (e.g., small interfering RNA) for livestock research.
• * Integrating functional genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics.

Main Results:

• * Mouse studies reveal the complexity of mammary gland development and function.
• * These findings offer insights into coordinated mammary function in ruminants and swine.
• * In vitro and omics approaches are proposed for livestock-specific research.

Conclusions:

• * Advanced molecular and genomic techniques are crucial for livestock mammary gland research.
• * Integrating diverse 'omics' approaches and bioinformatics will drive major advances in lactation biology.
• * Stem cell biology and robust scientific training are key to future improvements in lactation efficiency and livestock production.