Occurrence and fate of corpora amylacea in the bovine udder.

The presence and location of corpora amylacea were studied quantitatively by biopsy technique in separate glands of a normal cow during a lactation cycle. Corpora amylacea were present in alveoli throughout lactation without any evidence of an abnormal bacterial flora or an inflammatory reaction. The corpora amylacea were most numerous during the decline in lactation, approximately 95% being in the alveoli. During the nonlactating (dry) period, there was approximately a 50% decrease in the number of corpora amylacea, with about 90% of those remaining being in the interstitial tissue. They appeared to enter the interstitial tissue passively coincident with atrophy of alveoli.