The current pricing structure of the UK milk industry considers milk quality with higher premiums paid for milk protein content than for fat. Attempts to alter milk protein content by feeding extra protein(Bequette et al.,1998) or infusing amino acids(AA) in dairy cows has not always given consistent results. The present study is the first in a series where the objective is to use explants prepared from rat mammary glands to start identifying which AA may be (limiting) most important in regulating milk protein synthesis. Such information could be useful to identify specific AA which should be supplemented in the diet of the cow.