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The Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Content in Human Milk Increases Between Early and Full Lactation^*

A. N. CORPS, K. D. BROWN, L. H. REES, J. CARR and C. G. PROSSER

Agricultural and Food Research Council Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Babraham, Cambridge, CB2 4AT United Kingdom; and St. Bartholomew’s Hospital London, EC1A 4BE United Kingdom

Address requests for reprints to: Dr. A. N. Corps, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Cambridge Research Station, Babraham Hall, Cambridge, CB2 4AT United Kingdom.

The concentration of immunoreactive insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) in human mammary secretions, assayed after acid-ethanol extraction, was high [mean, 4.1 ± 0.5 (±SE) nmol/L; n = 13] for several weeks prepartum. It then decreased during the first 3 days postpartum to 1.3 ± 0.1 nmol/L (n = 28), in parallel with changes in epidermal growth factor (EGF) and protein concentrations. However, between the first and sixth weeks postpartum, the IGF-I concentration increased to 2.5 ± 0.2 nmol/L (n = 18), while levels of EGF and protein decreased further. Given that the volume of milk produced increases during this period, the total IGF-I output rose by up to 4-fold, while EGF output remained constant. The increase in IGF-I and decrease in EGF in milk suggest that different regulatory mechanisms control the output of different growth factors by the mammary gland.

^* This work was supported by the Joint Research Board of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London.

Present address: Department of Chemical Endocrinology, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, EClA 4BE United Kingdom.

Present address: Dulwich Hospital, East Dulwich Grove, London, SE22 8PT United Kingdom.

Received July 14, 1987.

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