title: Growth of mouse mammary epithelium in response to serum-free media conditioned by mammary adipose tissue.
abstract: Normal mouse mammary epithelial cells, isolated from female Balb/c mice, were cultured as multicellular organoids either on or within collagen gel matrices. Cultures were maintained in either serum-free control medium or the same medium conditioned by mammary adipose tissue. A significant proliferative response above that observed in control cultures (2.5-3.5 fold increase) was induced by conditioned medium derived from either mammary fat-pad explants or isolated adipocytes. In addition, scanning electron microscopy revealed epithelial morphology to be preserved in a more in vivo-like state in the conditioned medium. We conclude that diffusible factors derived from the mouse mammary fat pad influence the proliferative activity and morphology of mammary epithelial cells in culture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-4220.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Hosick
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D003094:Collagen; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005782:Gels; D003094:Collagen