A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Milk metabolite composition of a semi-captive population of Asian elephants
Authors: Galante, Laura; dos Santos, Diogo Joao Franco; Mikkonen, Elisabeth; Horak, Jeannie; Stijepic, Zorica; Demmelmair, Hans; Vielhauer, Andrea; Koletzko, Berthold; Zaw, Htet Thi; Htut, Win; Lummaa, Virpi; Lahdenperä, Mirkka
Publisher: ROYAL SOC
Publishing place: LONDON
Publication year: 2024
Journal: Royal Society Open Science
Journal name in source: ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
Journal acronym: ROY SOC OPEN SCI
Article number: 240930
Volume: 11
Issue: 10
Number of pages: 23
eISSN: 2054-5703
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240930
Web address : https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.240930
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/470782353
Lack of maternal milk commonly leads to Asian elephant calves' death in captivity. Currently, available supplements seem inefficient. Hence, we aimed at characterizing the composition of Asian elephant milk to provide information on calves' nutritional needs. Seventy milk samples from 22 Asian elephants living in semi-captivity in their natural environment in Myanmar were collected. Samples were analysed through various techniques including liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-flame ionization detector, and bicinchoninic acid assay to determine total protein content and various metabolites. Associations with lactation stage (months postpartum) were investigated through repeated measure mixed models. We identified 160 compounds: 22 amino acids, 12 organic acids of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, 27 fatty acids, 15 acyl-carnitines and 84 phospholipids. The milk contained substantial amounts of free glutamate (median: 1727.9, interquartile range (IQR): 1278.4 mu mol l-1) and free glycine (2541.7, IQR: 1704.1 mu mol l-1). The fatty acid profile was mostly constituted by saturated fatty acids, particularly capric acid (40.1, IQR: 67.3 g l-1). Milk samples also contained high amounts of carnitines, phospholipids and organic acids. The wide array of metabolites identified and quantified, some of which present high concentrations in the milk from this species as opposed to other species, suggests underpinning physiological functions that might be crucial for the survival of Asian elephant calves.
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Funding information in the publication:
This study was financially supported by The European Research Council (Elephant Project, ERC-2014-CoG number 648766, KinSocieties, ERC-2022-ADG, number 101098266—V.L.), Oskar Öflunds Stiftelse—L.G., Aaltonen Foundation (230125 N31)—E.M., and the Strategic Research Council within the Research Council of Finland (grant numbers 345185 and 345183—NetResilience consortium)—M.L. and V.L.
