Compensatory nutrition-directed mammary cell proliferation and lactation in rats

The proper use of a time-dependent and controlled nutrition regimen during the hormone-sensitive growth phase before first parturition can significantly affect mammary growth and subsequent lactation performance. The objective of the present study was to determine if a compensatory nutrition regimen improves lactation performance by affecting proliferation and apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells. Forty female rats (7 weeks of age, average weight 148 g) were assigned to either (1) control, free access to diet or (2) stair-step compensatory nutrition regimen, an alternating 3-4-week schedule beginning with an energy-restricted diet (31.2% restriction) for 3 weeks, followed by the control diet for 4 weeks. Estimated milk yield was greater (P < 0.05) on day 15 of lactation in the compensatory nutrition group than in the control group. Mammary cell proliferation values were 1.4- and 2.7-fold greater in mammary tissue from the compensatory group during pregnant and early lactating stages respectively, compared with those from the control group. Ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.17) mRNA was 24% higher (P < 0.05) in mammary tissues of rats from the compensatory nutrition group during pregnancy than in those from the control group. These results indicate that the compensatory nutrition regimen imposed during the peripubertal growth phase stimulated mammary epithelial cell proliferation and improved lactation performance.