Metabolic pathways of cytoplasmic droplets from freshly secreted goat's milk

Summary A new procedure is described for the preparation of cytoplasmic droplets from goat's milk and the metabolic potential of these droplets has been surveyed. Acetate was incorporated into fatty acids of varying chain lengths and acetate and glucose were oxidized to CO2by these cytoplasmic droplets in vitro. There was a low rate of protein synthesis but no detectable DNA or lactose synthesis. It is concluded that the cytoplasmic droplets can provide an alternative to biopsy material for studying certain aspects of goat mammary lipid metabolism in vitro.