The expression changes of casein mRNAs in mammary epithelial cells recovered from bovine milk during the lactation period

The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between bovine casein (CN) mRNA expression levels in mammary epithelial cells and lactation period, the yields of milk proteins and other parameters. The cells were collected from each cow's milk, which contained somatic cell counts (SCC) of less than 100,000 cells/ml. The levels of alpha s1-, alpha s2-, beta- and kappa-CN mRNA expression were significantly correlated with each other in mammary epithelial cells (p < 0.01). All cows produced either less than 30 kg/day/cow or a over 30 kg/day/cow level of milk yield (MY). It was shown that the CN mRNA expression levels decreased gradually from the calving period to late lactation, when MY was over 30 kg/day/cow. The SCC tended to increase gradually during the course of lactation, but it was negatively correlated with milk protein and CN yields (p < 0.01) when MY was less than 30 kg/day/cow. Moreover, there was a tendency for a negative correlation between SCC and alpha s1-CN and beta-CN mRNA expression level, when MY was less than 30 kg/day/cow (p < 0.05).