title: Prolactin-independent induction of alpha-lactalbumin gene expression in mammary gland explants from pregnant Balb/c mice.
abstract: A four-fold increment of alpha-lactalbumin mRNA was induced in mammary gland explants from mid-pregnant Balb/c mice cultured for 24h in media containing insulin, cortisol and T3, and this response was enhanced by 40% with the addition of prolactin. In contrast, elevated beta-casein gene expression was evident only in explants cultured in media with insulin, cortisol, T3 and prolactin. These results suggest that the induction of the alpha-lactalbumin gene was prolactin-independent and did not result from retention of endogenous prolactin, or its effects, by the mammary explants.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO, Division of Wildlife and Ecology, Lyneham, ACT, Australia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nicholas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D007328:Insulin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D011388:Prolactin; D007768:Lactalbumin; D006854:Hydrocortisone