title: Relationship between histology, development and tumorigenesis of mammary gland in female rat.
abstract: The mammary gland is a dynamic organ that undergoes structural and functional changes associated with growth, reproduction, and post-menopausal regression. The postnatal transformations of the epithelium and stromal cells of the mammary gland may contribute to its susceptibility to carcinogenesis. The increased cancer incidence in mammary glands of humans and similarly of rodents in association with their development is believed to be partly explained by proliferative activity together with lesser degree of differentiation, but it is not completely understood how the virgin gland retains its higher susceptibility to carcinogenesis. During its developmental cycle, the mammary gland displays many of the properties associated with breast cancer. An early first full-term pregnancy may have a protective effect. Rodent models are useful for investigating potential breast carcinogens. The purpose of this review is to help recognizing histological appearance of the epithelium and the stroma of the normal mammary gland in rats, and throughout its development in relation to tumorigenic potential.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty of Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, Bratislava 811 08, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Ján
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Líška
authors.forename: Július
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brtko
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dubovický
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Macejová
authors.forename: Viktória
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kissová
authors.forename: Štefan
authors.initials: Š
authors.lastname: Polák
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ujházy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000473:pathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology*; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology