Open AccessIs Prolactin Mitogenic for Mammary Epithelium?
Author(s) -
Takami Oka,
Yale J. Topper
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.69.7.1693
Subject(s) - prolactin , epithelium , medicine , endocrinology , mammary gland , prolactin cell , insulin , biology , hormone , cancer , breast cancer , genetics
Prolactin administration to mature virgin mice leads to prolilferation of epithelium of the mammary gland. In organ culture, prolactin is not mitogenic, but insulin and insulin-free serum are. These observations are reconciled by the finding that insensitive epithelium is sensitized to insulin and/or serum by prolactin treatmentin vivo . Thus, it appears that prolactin acts indirectly as a mitogen by rendering the cells susceptible to the aforementioned mitogens.