Figure 1.

Conceptual Model of the Effect of Inflammation on Milk Production. This conceptual framework illustrates how oxylipins may be involved in resolution of mammary inflammation, leading to improved milk synthesis: (A) Fatty acids are oxidized by the mammary gland for energy and used as substrate for synthesis of the milk fat globule. This process requires uptake of fatty acids from the circulating lipoproteins by LPL. (B) Inflammation causes suppression of LPL by TNF-α, reducing fatty acid availability in the mammary gland and reducing milk synthesis. (C) We hypothesize that pro-resolving oxylipins, such as those derived from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), reduce mammary inflammation and promote normal fatty acid uptake and milk synthesis.