The Study of Differentiative Potential of the Lactating Mouse Mammary Gland in Organ Culture

• Published in: In Vitro 1984-01, Vol.20 (1), p.59-65
• Main Authors: Perry, John W., Oka, Takami
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal cells; Animal glands; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Caseins - biosynthesis; Cell Division; Daughter cells; DNA; Epithelial cells; Eukaryotic cell cultures; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormone metabolism and regulation; Hormones; Hydrocortisone - pharmacology; Insulin; Insulin - pharmacology; Lactalbumin - biosynthesis; Lactation; Mammary glands; Mammary Glands, Animal - metabolism; Messenger RNA; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Milk protein; Miscellaneous; Organ Culture Techniques; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Parturition. Lactation; Prolactin - pharmacology; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Vertebrates: reproduction
• ISSN: 0073-5655; 2327-4328; 1475-2689
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02633333

The organ culture of the mammary gland of lactating mice was used to examine the response of the differentiated gland to lactogenic stimuli, insulin, cortisol, and prolactin. Time course studies showed that casein synthesis in cultured tissue decreased rapidly during the first 2 d despite the presence of the three hormones, but on the 3rd d tissue cultured with either insulin and prolactin or all three hormones regained the ability to synthesize milk proteins, casein, and α-lactalbumin: a greater increase occurred in the three hormone system. The delayed addition of prolactin on Day 2 to the culture system containing insulin and cortisol also stimulated casein synthesis. The addition of cytarabine, which inhibited insulin-dependent cell proliferation in cultured expiants, did not block the rebound of milk protein synthesis. These results indicate that in the presence of insulin, cortisol, and prolactin mammary epithelial cells in culture first lose and then regain the ability of synthesizing milk protein without requiring the formation of new daughter cells.