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Human breast epithelium transplanted into nude mice

Proliferation and milk protein production in response to pregnancy

Virchows Archiv A volume 404, pages 325–333 (1984)Cite this article

Summary

Epithelial components of the normal human breast and their response to hormonal manipulation have been studied in the nude mouse. Six to eight week-old female athymic nude mice were used as the recipients of enzymatically prepared breast organoids, composed of ductal and lobuloalveolar structures. After 12 weeksin situ in the mouse mammary fat pad the human breast tissue retains its normal morphology as demonstrated by the presence of myosin positive myoepithelial cells and keratin positive luminal cells. Monoclonal antibodies M8 and M18 raised to components of the human milk fat globule membrane give a similar staining pattern in the xenografted organoids to that seen in the donor tissue. On mating the recipient female nude mice, the human breast tissue responds with both an increased3H-thymidine labeling index and α-lactalbumin production. This model in conjunction with in vitro studies is, therefore, suitable for the study of extrinsic and intrinsic factors controlling differentiation and morphogenesis in the human breast.

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Affiliations

  1. Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (London Branch) Haddow Laboratories Royal Marsden Hospital, Clifton Avenue, SM2 5PX, Sutton, Surrey, Great Britain

    Barry A. Gusterson, Judith Williams, Hilary Bunnage, Michael J. O'Hare & Jean Daniel Dubois

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  1. Barry A. Gusterson
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  2. Judith Williams
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  3. Hilary Bunnage
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  4. Michael J. O'Hare
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  5. Jean Daniel Dubois
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Gusterson, B.A., Williams, J., Bunnage, H. et al. Human breast epithelium transplanted into nude mice. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 404, 325–333 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694897

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694897

Key words

  • Human breast
  • Nude mice
  • α-lactalbumin