Mammary gland

Cross Section through the Teat Canal of the Mammary Gland showing a Keratin Plug

Mammary gland
Ectodermal in origin. Modified sweat gland. Tubulo-alveolar type in advanced mammals. Wide species wise variation in the appearance of mammary gland.

Anatomical structure of mammary gland External structure

Located in inguinal region. Mammary gland and teats together is called dder. Cows udder has two halves, each half has two teats. Each teat is joined with separate gland, called quarter.

Separate Mammary Glands-Quarters

 Each quarters are separated by connective tissue. There may be supernumery teats having non-secretary functions. Supernumery teats sheep,goaaat, swine and mare. Wt. of lactating bovine udder: 14-32kg.

 Udder can weigh anywhere from 7 to 165 pounds May support up to 80 pounds of milk Rear quarters secrete 60% of the milk Udder continues to grow in size until cow is 6 years of age.

Mammary Gland Suspension

1. 1. 2. 1. 2. 3. Skin Minor role in support Median suspensory ligament Connects udder to abdominal wall Elastic tissue which responds to weight of milk in udder. Lateral suspensory ligament Inflexible Surround the outer wall of udder Attached to prepubic and subpubic tendons

Internal structure
Two halves are separated by median suspensory ligament. Posterior extremity of this ligament is attached to prepubic tendon. Bovine teat is opened to exterior through Galactophore. Teat has a small cistern called teat cistern, continued to teat canal called streak canal that opens to outside through galactophore.

 Radiating upward from streak canal -opens structure called Furstenbergs rosette. Composed of 7-8 folds of mucus membrane, which helps to retain milk in the teat. Sphincter muscle surrounding streak canalprimary structure-retention of milk. Above each teat, there is gland cistern to which teat cistern is joined. Numerous ducts of quarter are attached with gland cistern. These ducts branch profusely, ultimately ending in the secretory units called alveoli or acini.

 Milk is formed in the epithelial cells of alveoli. Alveoli grouped together in units called lobules. Lobules are grouped into larger units called lobes. Alveoli are surrounded by myoepithelial cells that are involved in milk ejection reflex.

An alveolus surrounded by blood vessels and myoepithelial cells in the mammary gland

 Skin epithelial of udder-stratified squamous Streak canal epithelium- transitional epithelial Teat and gland cisterns-two layers epithelium-cuboidal (one layer), cylindrical (another layer).

Alveoli and Duct System

Growth and development of mammary gland

a) Pre-pubertal development: At birth, bovine udder has distinct teat and gland cistern. Muscular and lymphatic systems are developed. From birth to puberty, little development. Increases in size due to increase in connective tissue, fat and extension of duct system.

b) Growth during puberty and estrous cycle Growth of duct-follicular phase Lobulo-alveolar development-luteal phase
c) Development during pregnancy Mammary gland develops rapidly. Glandular tissue spread. By 5th month, lobules are formed. Development of duct system-completed at the time of parturition.

Hormonal control of mammary gland (lecture no. 22)

1) Pituitary Gonadotropins (FSH, LH) FSH- development of follicles-source of estrogen causes duct development. LH-causes ovulation and forms CL-source of progesterone

Estrogen+ progesterone lobulo-alveolar growth.

2) Anterior pituitary hormones GH, ACTH, TSH, Prolactin- optimum mammary growth. 3) Adrenal hormones-mammary growth development by estrogen and progesterone further stimulated by adrenocorticotropic hormones. Adrenal steroids regulation of mammary gland. 4) Placenta: Partly plays the functional role of hypophysis and ovary in enhancing development of mammary gland.

Lactogenesis
Process by which the alveolar cells of mammary gland are tuned with the ability to secrete milk is k/a lactogenesis. There are different stages involved in it:

1st stage: enzymatic and cytologic change of alveolar epithelial cells and a limited secretion of milk before parturition occurs.
2nd stage: All milk constituents are secreted just immediately before parturition and the process extends for several days. 3rd stage: Onset of milk secretion after parturition occurs to supply nutrients to new borns.

Onset of milk secretion is under the control of following hormones: Prolactin Glucocorticoids Sudden fall in progesterone level at parturition Placental lactogen

Galactopoiesis
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Process of maintenance of milk secretion Depends upon-alveolar cell number, their synthetic efficiency and let down of milk. Hormones responsible for galactopoiesis are: Oxytocin ACTH GH Glucocorticoids Tsh Prolactin Insulin

Let down of milk

Neuro-hormonal reflex
Mechanical stimulation of peripheral neural receptors in skin of teat (during milking/suckling) neural stimulus. Stimulus travels from teat to spinal cord and to the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of hypothalamus. Synthesize oxytocin hormone release through posterior pituitary. Oxytocin-released to b/d-transported to target t/s (myoepithelial cells of mammary gland). Contraction of gland and ejection or let down of milk.

Composition of milk
Milk Water Total solid (Dry matter) Fat Solid Not Fat (SNF) True fat Associated substances(phospholipid, chlesterol) Lactose Nitrogenous substances Minerals matter Other constituents Non-protein Protein AAs, Uric acids, NH3, creatinine Casein, lactoalbumin, lactoglobulin, protease