High concentrations of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) have been found in goat milk but it is not known whether it can enter the circulation of the neonate. In this study we have developed a sensitive two-site lanthanide immunofluorometric assay (IFMA) using dissociation and enhancement time-resolved fluorometry to address this question.

Affinity-purified anti-PTHrP 38–67 raised in rabbit was biotinylated and immobilized in streptavidin-coated microtitration wells as a ‘capture’ antibody. As a signal, affinity-purified anti-PTHrP 1–34, raised in sheep, was labeled with an europium chelate. A sensitivity of 0·3 pmol/l was achieved. PTHrP levels were determined in the plasma of eleven neonatal, seven parturient and six non-pregnant, non-lactating goats as well as in goat milk.

The circulating PTHrP levels (mean±s.d.) were significantly increased at day 1 (6·1± 1·7 pmol/l; P< 0·01) and day 3 (3·5±0·6 pmol/l; P< 0·05) after birth in the male kids (n = 8) bottle-fed with milk from the dams, compared with before (2·2±0·7 pmol/l)and 30 min after (2·0±0·6 pmol/l) the first feeding and 14 days (2·4±0·8 pmol/l) later. In the female kids (n = 3) fed with formula there was no such increase and the concentrations remained between 1·6–1·9 pmol/l. In the parturient goats the mean±s.d. PTHrP levels before, during and after parturition were 2·9±1·7. 4·2±2·4 and 3·7±2·2 pmol/l respectively (n = 7) which demonstrated that plasma PTHrP was higher during and after parturition in comparison with before (P < 0·05). The levels in non-pregnant, non-lactating goats were 3·3±1·5 pmol/l (n = 6). PTHrP levels in goat milk were in the nanomolar range and were highest in the colostrum.

A significant increase of plasma PTHrP was observed in goat kids fed with milk from their dams and this increase was not found in kids fed with formula. Plasma PTHrP was also increased during parturition.