Our team aimed to address the issue of diagnosing insufficient milk supply in postpartum individuals. Currently, there are no immediate methods to diagnose insufficient milk supply, jeopardizing the health of both mother and child. We developed a protocol to induce lactation in mammary epithelial cells (MECs). Using β-casein as a lactation success marker, experiments at various temperatures and collagen substrate stiffnesses revealed temperatures above 39°C inhibit β-casein expression, indicating low milk supply. Additionally, it was found that substrate stiffness did not affect lactation. Furthermore, there was an increase in cell size in the lactating cultures. Our study offers a novel protocol to induce lactation addressing diagnostic challenges and aiding future research.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Quinones, Taina
• Ewing, Jazmyn
• Major, Caroline
• Dimanche, Leithsa

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 121757
• E-project-042524-142234

Advisor

• Alatalo, Diana

Year

• 2024

Date created

• 2024-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Source

• E-project-042524-142234

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Zuletzt geändert

• 2024-05-22