Fate of Milk Borne Erythropoietin in Suckling Rats

Abstract

Mammalian milk is a rich source of hormones and growth factors which survive proteolytic degradation and are absorbed intact in the neonate.¹Human milk contains erythropoietin (Epo), the primary endocrine hormone responsible for erythropoiesis.²Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) may be an effective treatment for the anemia of prematurity but traditional routes of administration, such as intravenous or subcutaneous dosing have thus far provided disappointing results. In animals, milk borne Epo stimulates erythropoiesis.³Additionally, Epo receptors have been found in gastrointestinal tract, wherein vitrostudies show mitogenic and stimulatory effects of Epo on gastrointestinal cells.^4,5We hypothesized that milk borne Epo is distributed both to local GI tissues and to the systemic circulation in the Sprague Dawley suckling rat.