Oestrogenic effects on in vitro co-culture of mammary explants and
epithelial cells
S. Ellis, T.B. McFadden and R.M. Akers
Department of Dairy Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University, Blacksburg, U.S.A and Dairy Science Group, AgResearch,
Ruakura Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, 1996,
56: 62-64
Mechanisms of oestrogen stimulation of mammary development were
examined using ewe lambs treated with oestradiol (0.1mg/kg BW/day for 7
days; n=5) or controls (n=5). Mammary explants were incubated with [3H]-
thymidine to determine effects of oestrogen on epithelial cell proliferation.
Also, explants of mammary stroma and parenchyma were co-cultured with a
mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T) to determine the ability of the
explants to stimulate MAC-T growth. Oestrogen increased proliferation of
ewe mammary epithelial cells (P < 0.02). In co-cultures, addition of
mammary explants increased growth of MAC-T cells (P < 0.01), but there
was no effect or interaction of tissue type (stroma vs. parenchyma) or
oestrogen (P > 0.10). Proliferation of mammary explants was negatively
correlated with growth of MAC-T cells in co-cultures (r = -0.41; P < 0.07).
These results confirm the importance of oestrogen and mammary stroma in
regulating mammary epithelial proliferation but fail to show a requirement
for mammary stroma to mediate oestrogenic effects on epithelial cells.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Mammary; co-culture; oestrogen.
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Last Updated 18-03-1997
