title: Effects of 1alpha,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol and cortisol on the growth and differentiation of primary cultures of mouse mammary epithelial cells in collagen gel.
abstract: We examined the effects of 1alpha,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-DHCC) and the glucocorticoid, cortisol, on primary mouse mammary epithelial cells in collagen gel cell culture systems. Physiological low concentrations (10(-11)-10(-9) M) of 1,25-DHCC stimulated growth of the cells in a collagen gel matrix culture in serum-free DMEM+Ham's F12 (1:1) medium containing BSA, EGF and cholera toxin, and the cell number reached 1.8-fold the control after 6 d in culture. In contrast, supraphysiological concentrations (10(-8)-10(-7) M) of 1,25-DHCC suppressed cell growth. Cortisol produced similar, but smaller, dose-dependent effects. The addition of serum to the culture medium masked the stimulatory effect of 1,25-DHCC and both the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of cortisol. 1,25-DHCC also affected casein synthesis by cells cultured in a serum-free floating collagen gel culture containing prolactin, insulin and cortisol, enhancing synthesis at low concentrations (10(-11)-10(-9) M) and inhibiting it above 10(-8) M. In the absence of cortisol, no detectable change in casein synthesis was induced by 1,25-DHCC. These results suggest a physiological role for 1,25-DHCC in stimulating both growth and differentiation of mouse mammary epithelial cells, though 1,25-DHCC does not substitute for glucocorticoids in the differentiation of the cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Enami
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kohmoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists; D003094:Collagen; D002117:Calcitriol; D006854:Hydrocortisone