Effects of added exogenous hormones on lactation-related physiological functions of equine mammary epithelial cells.
Authors: Li Chao, Zheng Shengchen, Lin Jianwei, Li Qian, Yang Kailun, Li Xiaobin
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Optimising Equine Mammary Cell Culture for Lactation Research Researchers have identified optimal hormone supplementation protocols for culturing equine mammary epithelial cells (EMECs) in vitro, establishing a more physiologically relevant model for studying mare lactation. Using a systematic approach combining individual hormone optimisation with orthogonal analysis, the team determined that hydrocortisone (1 μg/mL) combined with epidermal growth factor (5 ng/mL) produced the most robust cell survival and function, significantly outperforming control cultures. This hormone combination drove marked increases in key milk components: triglyceride and lactose production rose by 86.36% and 33.33% respectively, whilst β-casein levels increased by 30.10%, indicating substantially enhanced synthetic capacity of the cultured cells. Transcriptomic profiling revealed upregulation of genes critical to mammary function, including those encoding laminin subunits and collagen IV (essential for epithelial cell-matrix interactions), fatty acid synthase (lipid synthesis), and FOXO1 (metabolic regulation), with enriched signalling through PI3K-Akt pathways known to support cell survival and anabolic metabolism. For equine practitioners, these findings establish a validated cellular model that should facilitate future investigation into lactation physiology, mastitis pathogenesis, and potentially optimisation of nutritional and pharmaceutical strategies to support lactating mares—particularly valuable for breeding operations managing mares with suboptimal milk production or quality.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This research establishes foundational cell culture models for studying equine milk production, which may inform future research into optimizing mare lactation and foal nutrition
- •Understanding the molecular pathways regulating equine milk synthesis could potentially support interventions for mares with lactation deficiency or poor milk quality
- •The identified genes and signaling pathways provide targets for future in vivo studies to enhance milk component production in breeding mares
Key Findings
- •Optimal culture conditions for equine mammary epithelial cells (EMECs) achieved with 15% FBS plus 1 µg/mL hydrocortisone and 5 ng/mL EGF combination
- •HYD + EGF combination increased triglyceride production by 86.36% and lactose production by 33.33% (P < 0.01) compared to control
- •HYD + EGF combination increased β-casein levels by 30.10% (P < 0.05)
- •Transcriptome analysis identified 1,028 differentially regulated genes involved in lactation, including FASN, FOXO1, and laminin subunits critical for milk synthesis and cell adhesion