Hormone-responsive survival of mammary gland explants from the pregnant tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) in the absence of exogenous hormones and growth factors.
1. The level of beta-lactoglobulin mRNA increased maximally in mammary explants from late pregnant tammars cultured for 3 days in media containing either prolactin or insulin, cortisol and prolactin. 2. The same level of accumulation occurred when explants were first cultured for 4 days in a chemically defined medium with no exogenous hormones, serum or growth factors, suggesting that the tissue remains viable and hormone-responsive during the initial incubation. 3. Mammary explants cultured for 4 days in medium with no hormones demonstrated a progressive increase in the rate of RNA and DNA synthesis suggesting that the tissue is under a positive autocrine/paracrine stimulus.
Division of Wildlife and Ecology, CSIRO, Lyneham, Australia.
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Nicholas
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Collet
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Joseph
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Sankaran
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000502:physiology; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000235:genetics; D007614:Macropodidae / Q000502:physiology*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
D006133:Growth Substances; D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D007782:Lactoglobulins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011388:Prolactin; D004247:DNA; D006854:Hydrocortisone