title: Is EGF a physiological inhibitor of mouse mammary casein synthesis? Unphysiological responses to pharmacological levels of hormones.
abstract: It has been observed that EGF inhibits the induction of casein synthesis by mouse mammary tissue in vitro in addition to acting as a promoter of mammary epithelial proliferation. However, since the circulating level of EGF increases during lactation, and since functional EGF receptors are retained by the lactating cells, it seemed unlikely that EGF is an inhibitor of mammary differentiation in vivo. The current studies demonstrate, in fact, that EGF inhibits the induction of casein synthesis in vitro only when insulin is present in the culture medium at unphysiologically high concentrations. Other artifactual responses to high levels of hormones are described.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sankaran
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Topper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002364:Caseins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D007328:Insulin; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone