Milk Oligosaccharides over Time of Lactation from Different Dog Breeds

Abstract

The partnership of humans and dogs goes back to over 10'000 years, yet relatively little is known about a dog's first extra-uterine nutrition particularly when it comes to milk oligosaccharides. We set out to identify and quantify milk oligosaccharides over the course of lactation from different dog breeds (Labrador retriever, Schnauzer and 3 Alaskan husky crossbreeds). To this end, 2 different chromatographic methods with fluorescence and mass spectrometry detection were developed and one was validated for quantification. Besides lactose and lactose-sulphate, we identified 2 different trisaccharides composed of 3 hexose units, 3′sialyllactose (3′SL), 6′sialyllactose (6′SL), 2′fucosyllactose (2′FL), and a tetrasaccharide composed of 2 hexoses, an N-acetylhexosamine and a deoxyhexose. 3′SL was present at the highest levels in milk of all dog breeds starting at around 7.5 g/L and dropping to about 1.5 g/L in the first 10 days of lactation. 6′SL was about 10 times less abundant and 2′FL and the tetrasaccharide had rather varying levels in the milk of the different breeds with the tetrasaccharide only detectable in the Alaskan husky crossbreeds. The longitudinal and quantitative data of milk oligosaccharides from different dog breeds are an important basis to further our understanding on their specific biological roles and also on the specific nutritional requirements of lactating puppies.

High-throughput glycomic analyses reveal unique oligosaccharide profiles of canine and feline milk samples

“…Comparing the canine results obtained in this study with those reported elsewhere, they are generally consistent with those of Rostami et al . [ 6 ], in which 3’SL, 6’SL and 2’FL were the predominant OS detected in a panel of dogs consisting of more than one breed, with 3’SL being the most abundant. An apparent breed effect on milk OS profile was also noted, with 2’FL being more highly represented in the miniature schnauzer breed and a tetrasaccharide being present only in the Alaskan husky breed, and although a robust statistical analysis of breed specific differences in milk OS profile was not made, such breed differences have been previously reported in bovine [ 23 ] and equine [ 24 ] studies.…”

“…Mean (±SD) dog ages were 3.53 ± 1.32 years in phase 1 and 4.90 ± 0.92 in phase 2. Median (range) litter sizes were 4.8 (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11) in phase 1 and 5.1 (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11) in phase 2. Study phases were separated by a period of 4 months and differed according to maternal diet.…”

“…Specific data relating to the oligosaccharide (OS) composition of domestic canine and domestic feline milk are either scarce (canine) or non-existent in the literature at present (feline). Rostami et al [6] reported the presence of 7 OS (plus lactose and lactose-3-sulphate) in milk samples from a panel of 7 dogs sampled at time points between day 1 and day 40 postpartum. Three OS were identified by mass/charge ratio as 2'-fucosyllactose (2'FL), 3'-sialyllactose (3'SL) and 6'-sialyllactose (6'SL).…”

“…Rostami et al . [ 6 ] reported the presence of 7 OS (plus lactose and lactose-3-sulphate) in milk samples from a panel of 7 dogs sampled at time points between day 1 and day 40 post-partum . Three OS were identified by mass/charge ratio as 2’-fucosyllactose (2’FL), 3’-sialyllactose (3’SL) and 6’-sialyllactose (6’SL).…”

Sialic acids as link to Japanese scientists

“…European dogs lack Neu5Gc not only in erythrocytes but also in other cells or fluids. In submaxillary gland mucin only Neu5Ac was found 46 ) as well as in milk oligosaccharides of different dogs 47 ) or the beagle dog. 48 ) In a study on dystrophin-deficient dogs (Golden retriever) maximum 2% Neu5Gc was found in muscle tissue.…”