IDENTIFICATION OF CELLULAR CONSTITUENTS OF BREASTMILK: AN ANALYSIS

Recently, breastmilk has been observed to be an ideal source of stem cells. Here, different cellular constituents that are present in human breastmilk, identified by cytological staining procedures. Smears were prepared from breastmilk and fixed with ether and 95% ethyl alcohol (1:1) followed by staining with Giemsa, Hematoxylin and Eosin. Different cell types were observed. These were identified by their unique morphological patterns and archetypal geometry of the nucleus. Monocytes have metaphorically bean/ kidney-shaped or horse-shoe shaped or heart shaped nucleus whereas lymphocytes have large nucleus. Macrophages display irregular shape. Plasma cells have small, dense, eccentric nucleus, voluminous cytoplasm. Neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils were recognized by their lobulated nucleus. Lactocytes are characterized by exclusive lipid inclusions. There was a predominant occurrence of vacuolar space resembling morphologically to alveolar and lobular cells of functional mammary gland of human. The expression of the following cell types in mature human milk concludes that they have both hematopoietic and mammary origin. This study further illustrates the possibilities of breastmilk to consider as a unique cellular model that can be used to study breast pathology and biology of mammary glands