Dramatic Changes in Gap Junction Expression in the Mammary Gland During Pregnancy, Lactation and Involution

Genetically modified mice mimicking ODDD (oculodentodigital dysplasia), a disease characterized by reduced Cx43 (connexin 43)-mediated gap junctional intercellular communication, represent an in vivo model to assess the role of Cx43 in mammary gland development and function. We previously reported that severely compromised Cx43 function delayed mammary gland development and impaired milk ejection in mice that harboured a G60S Cx43 mutant, yet there are no reports of lactation defects in ODDD patients. To address this further, we obtained a second mouse model of ODDD expressing an I130T Cx43 mutant to assess whether a mutant with partial gap junction channel activity would be sufficient to retain mammary gland development and function. The results of the present study show that virgin Cx43I130T/+ mice exhibited a temporary delay in ductal elongation at 4 weeks. In addition, Cx43I130T/+ mice develop smaller mammary glands at parturition due to reduced cell proliferation despite similar overall gland architecture. Distinct from Cx43G60S/+ mice, Cx43I130T/+ mice adequately produce and deliver milk to pups, suggesting that milk ejection is unaffected. Thus the present study suggests that a loss-of-function mutant of Cx43 with partial gap junction channel coupling conductance results in a less severe mammary gland phenotype, which may partially explain the lack of reported lactation defects associated with ODDD patients.

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Analysis of Multiple Gap Junction Gene Products in the Rodent and Human Mammary Gland

Experimental Cell Research ◽

10.1006/excr.1995.1308 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 220 (1) ◽

pp. 212-219 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Ambra Pozzi ◽

Boris Risek ◽

David T. Kiang ◽

Norton B. Gilula ◽

Nalin M. Kumar

Keyword(s):

Mammary Gland ◽

Gap Junction ◽

Gene Products ◽

Human Mammary Gland

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Electron microscopic studies on ultrathin frozen sections of lactating mouse mammary gland

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100081097 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 46-47

Author(s):

Jan Zarzycki ◽

Joseph Szroeder

Keyword(s):

Mammary Gland ◽

Protein Denaturation ◽

Chemical Constituents ◽

Freeze Substitution ◽

Electron Microscopic Examination ◽

Mouse Mammary Gland ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Preparation Methods ◽

Microscopic Studies ◽

Ultrathin Frozen Sections

The mammary gland ultrastructure in various functional states is the object of our investigations. The material prepared for electron microscopic examination by the conventional chemical methods has several limitations, the most important are the protein denaturation processes and the loss of large amounts of chemical constituents from the cells. In relevance to this,one can't be sure about a degree the observed images are adequate to the realy ultrastructure of a living cell. To avoid the disadvantages of the chemical preparation methods,some autors worked out alternative physical methods based on tissue freezing / freeze-drying, freeze-substitution, freeze-eatching techniqs/; actually the technique of cryoultraraicrotomy,i,e.cutting ultrathin sections from deep frozen specimens is assented as a complete alternative method. According to the limitations of the routine plastic embbeding methods we were interested to analize the mammary gland ultrastructure during lactation by the cryoultramicrotomy method.

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The effect of bromocriptine on mammary-gland ultrastructure of hyperprolactinemic rats

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100111136 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

pp. 204-205

Author(s):

I.C. Murray

Keyword(s):

Mammary Gland ◽

Dopamine Agonist ◽

Alveolar Epithelium ◽

Mammary Glands ◽

Female Rats ◽

Control Group ◽

Cell Hyperplasia ◽

Once Daily ◽

Long Evans

In women, hyperprolactinemia is often due to a prolactin (PRL)-secreting adenoma or PRL cell hyperplasia. RRL excess stimulates the mammary glands and causes proliferation of the alveolar epithelium. Bromocriptine, a dopamine agonist, inhibits PRL secretion and is given to women to treat nonpuerperal galactorrhea. Old female rats have been reported to have PRL cell hyperplasia or adenoma leading to PRL hypersecretion and breast stimulation. Herein, we describe the effect of bromocriptine and consequently the reduction in serum PRL levels on the ultrastructure of rat mammary glands.Female Long-Evans rats, 23 months of age, were divided into control and bromocriptine-treated groups. The control animals were injected subcutaneously once daily with a 10% ethanol vehicle and were later divided into a normoprolactinemic control group with serum PRL levels under 30 ng/ml and a hyperprolactinemic control group with serum PRL levels above 30 ng/ml.

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Ultrastructural Changes in the Mammary Epithelial Cell Population During Neoplastic Development Induced by A Chemical Carcinogen.

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100091238 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 34 ◽

pp. 250-251 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. Russo ◽

W. Isenberg ◽

M. Ireland ◽

I.H. Russo

Keyword(s):

Mammary Gland ◽

Cell Population ◽

Virgin Female ◽

Histological Change ◽

Mammary Epithelial ◽

Female Rats ◽

Ultrastructural Changes ◽

Post Inoculation ◽

Chemical Carcinogen ◽

Sprague Dawley

The induction of rat mammary carcinoma by the chemical carcinogen DMBA is used as a model for the study of the human disease (1). We previously described the histochemical changes that occur in the mammary gland of DMBA treated animals before the earliest manifested histological change, the intraductal proliferation (IDP), was observed (2). In the present work, we demonstrate that a change in the stable cell population found in the resting mammary gland occurs after carcinogen administration.Fifty-five day old Sprague-Dawley virgin female rats were inoculated intragastrically with 20mg of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) in 1ml sesame oil. Non-inoculated, age-matched females were used as controls. Mammary glands from control and inoculated rats were removed weekly from the time of inoculation until 60 days post-inoculation. For electron microscopy, the glands were immersed in Karnovsky's fixative, post-fixed in 1% OsO4, dehydrated, and embedded in an Epon-Araldite mixture. Thick (lμ) sections were stained with 1% toluidine blue and were used for selecting areas for ultrastructural study.

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The Nature of the Intramembrane Particle

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s1431927600003020 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 38 ◽

pp. 688-691

Author(s):

A.J. Verkleij

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Tight Junction ◽

Gap Junction ◽

The Other ◽

Fracture Face ◽

Band 3 Protein ◽

Satisfactory Explanation ◽

Freeze Fracturing ◽

Intramembrane Particle ◽

Luminal Membrane

Freeze-fracturing splits membranes into two helves, thus allowing an examination of the membrane interior. The 5-10 rm particles visible on both monolayers are widely assumed to be proteinaceous in nature. Most membranes do not reveal impressions complementary to particles on the opposite fracture face, if the membranes are fractured under conditions without etching. Even if it is considered that shadowing, contamination or fracturing itself might obscure complementary pits', there is no satisfactory explanation why under similar physical circimstances matching halves of other membranes can be visualized. A prominent example of uncomplementarity is found in the erythrocyte manbrane. It is wall established that band 3 protein and possibly glycophorin represents these nonccmplanentary particles. On the other hand a number of membrane types show pits opposite the particles. Scme well known examples are the ";gap junction',"; tight junction, the luminal membrane of the bladder epithelial cells and the outer membrane of Escherichia coli.

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