How do you milk mice? - briefly
Milk can be harvested from rodents only by anesthetizing the animal, surgically exposing the mammary glands, and using a micro‑pipette or capillary tube to suction the secretions. The procedure demands sterile technique, precise temperature control, and compliance with ethical animal‑research regulations.
How do you milk mice? - in detail
Mice can be induced to produce milk, but the process requires precise hormonal control, careful animal handling, and specialized micro‑collection tools.
Mice enter lactation naturally only after parturition. To obtain milk from virgin or non‑pregnant females, administer a regimen of prolactin‑stimulating agents (e.g., oxytocin, dopamine antagonists) combined with estradiol to mimic the hormonal profile of late pregnancy. Verify successful induction by checking for mammary gland enlargement and secretory activity under a dissecting microscope.
Prepare each subject in a clean, temperature‑controlled environment. Anesthetize with isoflurane or a short‑acting injectable to prevent stress‑induced inhibition of milk let‑down. Place the animal on a warming pad set to 37 °C to maintain core temperature during the procedure.
Collect the secretion with a calibrated glass capillary or a low‑volume micro‑pipette (maximum 5 µL per extraction). Apply gentle suction to the nipple while avoiding excessive pressure that could damage the duct. Perform the extraction no more than three times per day to preserve glandular integrity. Immediately transfer the fluid into sterile, pre‑cooled microcentrifuge tubes and store at –80 °C for downstream analysis.
Maintain sterility throughout: disinfect the collection area with 70 % ethanol, use disposable gloves, and replace pipette tips after each animal. Record the volume, time of day, and hormonal dose for each sample to ensure reproducibility.
Compliance with institutional animal care guidelines is mandatory. Obtain approval from an ethics committee, limit the number of extractions per individual, and monitor for signs of mastitis or distress. Euthanize any animal showing adverse health effects.
Collected murine milk serves as a source of immunoglobulins, hormones, and bioactive peptides for research in developmental biology, immunology, and nutraceutical development. Accurate documentation of the protocol enables replication across laboratories and supports the generation of high‑quality data.