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Induction and prevention of carcinogen-induced precancerous lesions in mouse mammary gland organ culture

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Methods in Cell Science

Abstract

Mouse mammary glands respond to growth promoting hormones in organ culture. In the presence of insulin, prolactin, aldostrone, and hydrocortisone, the glands exhibit extensive proliferation within 10 days of culture mimicking the mammary alveolar structures observed during pregnancy. However withdrawal of prolactin and steroids from the medium for an additional 14 days results in the disintegration of the alveolar structures resembling the mammary morphology observed during the involution stage. During the growth promoting phase if the glands are exposed to 7, 12, dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) for 24 hours and cultured through the entire 24 days of culture period, they develop precancerous lesions. This model is highly reproducible and extensively utilized to evaluate efficacy of potential chemopreventive agents against carcinogen-induced mammary lesions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Rajendra G. Mehta & Michael E. Hawthorne

  2. Chemoprevention Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Verno E. Steele

Authors
  1. Rajendra G. Mehta
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  2. Michael E. Hawthorne
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  3. Verno E. Steele
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Mehta, R.G., Hawthorne, M.E. & Steele, V.E. Induction and prevention of carcinogen-induced precancerous lesions in mouse mammary gland organ culture. Methods Cell Sci 19, 19–24 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009770720081

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