Mammary gland involution represents one of the most dramatic examples of programmed cell death/apoptosis and tissue regression during development, yet large gaps still exist in the understanding of the mechanisms involved, and the key factors that trigger involution, are not yet identified. With the focus on identifying "novel" genes associated with mammary gland regression, we used microarray ...

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling is essential for vertebrate organogenesis, including mammary gland development. The mechanism whereby FGF signaling is regulated in the mammary gland, however, has remained unknown. Using a combination of mouse genetics and 3D ex vivo models, we tested the hypothesis that Spry2 gene, which encodes an inhibitor of signaling via receptor tyrosine kinases (...

Smad4 is a central mediator for TGFbeta signals, which play important functions in many biological processes. To study the role of Smad4 in mammary gland development and neoplasia, we disrupted this gene in mammary epithelium using a Cre-loxP approach. Smad4 is expressed in the mammary gland throughout development; however, its inactivation did not cause abnormal development of the gland during...

Transport of glucose across the plasma membrane of mammary epithelial cells is believed to be a passive process of facilitated diffusion mediated by facilitative glucose transporter(s). This article presents three lines of evidence that indicate the expression of sodium/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) in the mammary gland of lactating and nonlactating cows. First, transcripts of SGLT1 mRNA rangin...

Pregnancy is the major modulator of mammary gland activity. It induces a tremendous expansion of the mammary epithelium and the generation of alveolar structures for milk production. Anecdotal evidence from multiparous humans indicates that the mammary gland may react less strongly to the first pregnancy than it does to subsequent pregnancies. Here, we verify that the mouse mammary gland respon...

We previously identified and characterized a novel tumor growth inhibitor and a fatty acid-binding protein in human mammary gland and named it the mammary-derived growth inhibitor-related gene (MRG). Here, the effects of MRG on mammary gland differentiation and its interaction with v-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (v-3 PUFAs) on growth inhibition were investigated. MRG protein expression was ass...

The delivery of copper to mammary gland and milk and the effects of lactation were examined in rats. Traces of (67)Cu/(64)Cu(II) were injected intraperitoneally or intravenously into virgin rats or lactating rats (2-5 days postpartum), and incorporation into blood, milk, and tissues was monitored. In virgin rats, most of the isotope first entered the liver and kidney. In lactating rats, almost ...

We previously identified and characterized a novel tumor growth inhibitor and a fatty acid-binding protein in human mammary gland and named it the mammary-derived growth inhibitor-related gene (MRG). Here, the effects of MRG on mammary gland differentiation and its interaction with v-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (v-3 PUFAs) on growth inhibition were investigated. MRG protein expression was ass...

The development of the mouse mammary gland occurs postnatally. Hormonal activation of local growth factor pathways stimulates rapid elongation and branching of the rudimentary gland through the fatty stroma. Earlier studies showed that GH is required for mammary gland ductal morphogenesis and that IGF-I mediates this action of GH. In the present study we show that adult IGF-I(m/m) mutant mice e...

ONE of the most interesting natural transformations in carbohydrate metabolism is that occurring in the active mammary gland during the synthesis of the galactose-containing disaccharide, lactose. Rohmann [1919] was able to obtain some evidence of the synthesis of lactose by the action of an extract of the mammary gland upon added sucrose. This investigator, on what now seems inconclusive evide...