The Journal of nutrition
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The Journal of nutrition · Aug 2014
Deep RNA sequencing reveals that microRNAs play a key role in lactation in rats.
Understanding the regulatory contribution of maternal physiology to difficulties with lactation is beneficial to both mother and infant. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a type of noncoding RNA, may be involved in the regulation of mammary gland development and function. In the present study, a deep RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technique was used to compare the expression profile of miRNAs and mRNAs of 2 pooled RNA samples from day 1 and day 7 postpartum (n = 1/d) rat (Rattus norvegicus) mammary glands to identify key miRNAs and their target genes that may control the rate-limiting steps of lactation. ⋯ The downregulated MTGs were enriched for the pathways involved in lipid biosynthesis. This gene cluster included 24 lipid metabolic process-related genes, which were putative targets of 10 differentially expressed miRNAs. These results will be helpful in discovering the biologic underpinnings of poor lactation performance in women attempting to breastfeed.