Role of endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine interactions in the development of mammary hyperplasia in Wnt-1 transgenic mice.

The Wnt-1 proto-oncogene is transcriptionally activated by mouse mammary tumor virus in mouse mammary tumor virus-induced tumors. Previous studies using transgenic mice showed that Wnt-1 expression in mammary gland causes alveolar hyperplasias which resemble mammary glands of pregnant mice. To understand the role of mammogenic hormones in the genesis of these hyperplasias, we examined the development of these glands before puberty in young transgenic mice and the effects of ovariectomy and adrenalectomy on the growth and morphology of Wnt-1 mammary hyperplasia. Mammary glands of Wnt-1 transgenic females showed hyperplastic morphology as early as 1 week after birth. The normal structure of the uterus of the adult Wnt-1 virgin mouse indicated that the circulating levels of ovarian hormones were not elevated. Ovariectomy and adrenalectomy had no obvious effect on the morphology of these mammary hyperplasias. To assess possible paracrine stimulation of mammary epithelial cells (MEC) by stromal cells, we transplanted MEC from normal BALB/c mice into gland-free fat pads of Wnt-1 transgenic mice and found that normal MEC maintained their normal ductal structure in Wnt-1 fat pads without alveolar development. Further, we did not detect Wnt-1 mRNA expression in the gland-free fat pads of these transgenic mice. When Wnt-1 MEC were transplanted into the fat pads of nude mice and allowed to grow towards existing normal MEC, the morphology of the existing normal MEC remained normal. We concluded that the development of mammary hyperplasia in Wnt-1 transgenic mice is solely dependent on Wnt-1 expression in MEC. We speculate that Wnt-1 may be a growth factor for mammary gland that only acts locally on the cells that produce it.

Sensitivity of the cervical transformation zone to estrogen-induced squamous carcinogenesis.

Regions where one type of epithelium replaces another (metaplasia) have a predilection for cancer formation. Environmental factors are closely linked to metaplastic carcinogenesis. In particular, cervical cancers associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection develop primarily at the transformation zone, a region where metaplastic squamous cells are detected in otherwise columnar epithelial-lined endocervical glands. Previously, we reported estrogen-induced multistage vaginal and cervical carcinogenesis in transgenic mice expressing HPV16 oncogenes in basal squamous epithelial cells. In the present study to investigate the threshold neoplastic response to exogenous estrogen, we treated groups of transgenic mice with lower hormone doses. A 5-fold reduction in estrogen dose induced squamous carcinogenesis solely at the cervical transformation zone compared with other reproductive tract sites. Further study delineated stages of transformation zone carcinogenesis, including formation of hyperplastic lower uterine glands and emergence of multiple foci of squamous metaplasia from individual stem-like glandular reserve cells, followed by neoplastic progression of metaplasia to dysplasia and squamous cancer. We propose that a combination of low-dose estrogen and low-level HPV oncogene expression biases transformation zone glandular reserve cells toward squamous rather than columnar epithelial fate decisions. Synergistic activation of proliferation by viral oncoprotein cell cycle dysregulation and estrogen receptor signaling, together with altered paracrine stromal-epithelial interactions, may conspire to support and promote neoplastic progression and cancer formation.

Cloning and expression of ovine placental lactogen.

Ovine placental lactogen (oPL) is active in a wide range of GH and PRL assays, a property that it shares with human GH (hGH). In addition, oPL is one of a small number of hormones that bind the human GH receptor with high affinity. In order to compare the sequence of oPL to the sequences of other members of the GH family, full-length cDNA clones have been isolated. These clones predict that the full sequence of oPL contains 198 amino acids preceded by a 38 amino acid signal sequence. The mature oPL sequence includes six cysteine and two tryptophan residues and shows substantially more identity to bovine PL (67%) and oPL (49%) than to mouse (31%) or human (25%) PL or to oGH (28%) or (26%) hGH. Like the natural hormone, oPL expressed in mammalian tissue cells binds with high affinity to a soluble form of the recombinant hGH receptor. Thus, oPL binds to the human receptor in spite of having a sequence that is considerably divergent from hGH. Interestingly, the sequence of oPL differs from hGH at most of the amino acids recently found by mutagenesis studies to be important residues in the binding of hGH to the human receptor.

Purification and partial characterization of hamster placental lactogen.

A radioreceptor assay for PRL-like activity was used to monitor the purification of a lactogenic protein, hamster placental lactogen (haPL), from late pregnant hamster placentae. Investigations of the PRL-like activity in placental extracts demonstrated that haPL is subject to disulfide-related aggregation phenomena that are not observed for mouse PL. By inclusion of 2-mercaptoethanol in the buffers used for purification, monomeric haPL was obtained. A 750-fold purification was achieved by ammonium sulfate precipitation and chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose, TSK diethylaminoethyl-650S, hydroxylapatite, and Sephadex G-100. This procedure yielded 6.2 mg (by dry wt) of purified haPL from 286 g 15-day pregnant hamster placentae, with an overall yield of 20%. The purified haPL has a mol wt of 25,200 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and an isoelectric point of 8.8. haPL is lactogenic as judged by its ability to compete for lactogen binding sites on rabbit mammary gland membranes and to stimulate secretion of alpha-lactalbumin by cultured mouse mammary gland epithelial cells.

Purification and characterization of mouse decidual calcyclin: a novel stimulator of mouse placental lactogen-II secretion.

The effects of secretagogue(s) from mouse decidual tissue on the release of mouse placental lactogen-II (mPL-II) were studied. Decidual tissue was obtained from 10- and 11-day-pregnant mice. The tissue was homogenized, extracted, and the tissue extract was made 50% saturated with ammonium sulfate. Both the precipitate and supernatant were tested for their ability to stimulate mPL-II release from cultured trophoblasts. The supernatant contained an activity to stimulate the release of mPL-II. This activity was further purified using column chromatography. The purification resulted in isolation of a protein with a mol wt of 20 K as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions and 6 K under reducing conditions. Further characterization of this protein showed that it binds calcium and has an amino acid sequence that is highly homologous with calcyclin expressed in mouse embryonic fibroblast cells and with calcyclin from other species. This protein was designated mouse decidual calcyclin. Antiserum was raised against the purified decidual calcyclin for development of an RIA and for immunoblots. Western blots of various mouse tissue extracts and mouse serum from different physiological stages showed that the concentration of calcyclin was highest in decidual tissue. Detectable levels were found in extracts from trophoblast, lung, and stomach, but the concentrations in these tissues were about 100 times lower than in decidua. Decidual calcyclin was not detectable in mouse serum. Cultured decidual cells released calcyclin into the medium. On average, this release was about 7.8 ng/micrograms DNA.24 h. The rate of release did not change significantly during 4 days of culture. The ratio of calcyclin in cells per calcyclin released during 24 h averaged 2.3 and did not change significantly during the culture period. The purified decidual calcyclin stimulated the release of mPL-II from cultured trophoblasts in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations from 0.01 to 1 microgram/ml. The maximum stimulation averaged about 1.5 times above control. It is concluded that decidual calcyclin may be of physiological importance for the regulation of mPL-II secretion.

Purification and partial characterization of two prolactin-like glycoprotein hormone complexes from the midpregnant mouse conceptus.

Two PRL-like glycoprotein hormone complexes were purified from the medium of cultured mouse conceptuses from day 10 of pregnancy: mouse placental lactogen-I (mPL-I) (29-32K), and mPL-I (36.5-42K). Sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis revealed that mPL-I (36.5-42K) is a complex of five proteins with mol wt of 36.5K, 37.5K, 39K, 40.5K, and 42K. Deglycosylation with peptide: N-glycosidase F or trifluoromethanesulfonic acid produced a single 29K protein. mPL-I (36.5-42K) was also sensitive to neuraminidase, but not to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H or bacterial alkaline phosphatase. The production of intermediates from partial digestion of mPL-I (36.5-42K) with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F indicated the presence of multiple glycosylation sites. mPL-I (29-32K) is a complex of three proteins with mol wt of 29K, 30.5K, and 32K. Treatment with peptide:N-glycosidase F or trifluoromethanesulfonic acid reduced the mol wt of the 30.5K and 32K bands to 28K. The 30.5K band was sensitive to endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H and endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F, but the 32K band was not. Neither band was sensitive to neuraminidase or bacterial alkaline phosphatase. The 29K band was resistant to all chemical and enzymatic treatments and is probably not glycosylated or phosphorylated. In the nonreduced state, neither form of mPL-I showed an increase in mobility over that of its reduced counterpart on sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, indicating that neither form of mPL-I contains the large disulfide loop common to hormones of the PRL family. After iodination, all component proteins of both forms of mPL-I were found to bind to day 17 pregnant mouse liver membranes and were displaceable by excess mPL-II. In a radioreceptor assay, 125I-labeled mPL-I (36.5-42K) was displaced by mPRL or mPL-II, but not by mGH. An antiserum to both forms of mPL-I was generated, and a RIA employing mPL-I (36.5-42K) as the standard and radioligand was developed. Dilutions of day 10 pregnant maternal mouse serum and placental homogenate and a partially purified fraction of mPL-I (29-32K) produced displacement curves parallel to that of mPL-I (36.5-42K) standard curve. Five micrograms of mPRL, mPL-II, or mGH or 10 microliter day 17 pregnant or male mouse serum did not displace the radioligand from the antibody. mPL-I (36.5-42K) was lactogenic, but it did not possess LH-like bioactivity.

Characterization of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) during gestation in mice: effects of hypophysectomy and an IGFBP-specific serum protease activity.

Characterization of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) and their pituitary regulation were investigated in intact and hypophysectomized (HX) pregnant and nonpregnant mice. Serum samples were obtained from pregnant mice killed on days 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 18 of gestation and fetal mice killed on day 18 of gestation. Some animals were HX or sham operated (SH) on days 9, 11, and 14 of gestation; HX and SH control animals were killed 3 days post surgery. Identification and relative quantities of IGFBPs were determined by Western ligand blotting (WLB) of whole serum, or immunoprecipitated and/or deglycosylated serum, using [125I]IGF-II as the ligand. Serum IGF-I and -II concentrations were determined in both HX and SH day 14 pregnant, nonpregnant, and day 18 fetal mouse sera. WLB analysis of nonpregnant mouse serum demonstrated IGFBPs with apparent Mr of approximately 45-40, 31-27, and 24 K. The 45-40 K IGFBPs appeared to be the mouse equivalent of IGFBP-3, and one of the 31-27 K IGFBPs appeared to be IGFBP-2. The other IGFBPs present are not yet fully identified. During pregnancy, the amount of IGFBP-3 present in serum (as measured by WLB) gradually decreased to 42%, 17%, and 10% of virgin levels on days 5, 8, and 10 of gestation. The amount of IGFBP-3 present in pregnant serum after day 10 of gestation was not measurable by scanning laser densitometry. Additionally, an IGFBP of approximately 27 K appeared during gestation; after treatment with Endoglycosidase F, this IGFBP decreased to 24 K. The major IGFBP in fetal serum appeared to be IGFBP-2, with lesser amounts of IGFBP-3 and the 27 and 24 K IGFBPs. Hypophysectomy significantly decreased IGFBP-3, IGF-I, and IGF-II in nonpregnant mouse serum, increased the amount of IGFBP2 found in pregnant mouse serum, and had no effect on IGF-I or -II concentration in day 14 pregnant mouse serum. Incubation of nonpregnant serum with late (day 17) pregnant serum for 5 h at 37 C, decreased the amount of IGFBP-3 (as measured by WLB) in the mixed sample to 93% of the amount present in the nonmixed sample. Iodinated recombinant IGFBP-3 ([125I]human (h)IGFBP-3) was incubated with different mouse serum samples, and proteolytic fragments were visualized after separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Modulation of mouse placental lactogen-I secretion in vitro: effects of progesterone and mouse placental lactogen-II.

The primary objective of this study was to develop a cell culture system for assessing effects of putative secretagogues on mouse PL-I (mPL-I) secretion. Trophoblast from days 7 to 11 of pregnancy was dispersed in collagenase, and the cells were fractionated on a Percoll gradient and plated on collagen gels in serum-free medium. Cells from days 7-9 of pregnancy yielded five bands on Percoll gradients and those from days 10 and 11 yielded six. mPL-I was present in four of the bands of cells from each day of pregnancy. Cells from day 7 of pregnancy that banded at a density of 1.044 g/ml secreted the largest amount of mPL-I during 5 days of culture. The mPL-I concentration of the medium of these cells increased for the first 3 or 4 days of culture and then declined on the fifth day. mPL-II could not be detected in the medium until the third or fourth day of culture, and its concentration increased thereafter. Cell viability was about 90% at the time of plating, remained at about 80% between days 1 and 4, and then declined on day 5. The cell type that produced mPL-I was identified with the reverse hemolytic plaque assay and by staining with anti-mPL-I antiserum. Both methods indicated that mPL-I was produced by giant cells. The ability of the cells to respond to putative secretagogues was examined using mPL-II and progesterone. mPL-II, at concentrations ranging between 10 ng/ml and 10 micrograms/ml, had no effect on the mPL-I concentration of the medium when it was present for up to 3 days of culture, which suggests that mPL-II does not inhibit mPL-I secretion in vitro. Incubation of the cells in the presence of 100-1000 ng/ml progesterone caused a dose- and time-dependent reduction in the mPL-I concentration of the medium and a decrease in the number of cells that stained with anti-mPL-I antiserum. The effect of progesterone on both endpoints was not apparent until the second day of treatment. These data suggest that progesterone inhibits mPL-I secretion at least in part by inhibiting the differentiation of mPL-I-producing giant cells. The fact that the mPL-I-producing cells responded to progesterone indicates that this culture system will be useful in assessing effects of putative secretagogues on mPL-I secretion.

Expression and distribution of messenger ribonucleic acids for growth hormone (GH) receptor and GH-binding protein in mice during pregnancy.

The GH-binding protein (GHBP) in rodents consists of a ligand-binding domain, which is identical to the extracellular portion of the GH receptor (GHR), and a hydrophilic carboxyl-terminal domain, in place of the transmembrane and intracellular domains of the GHR. The two proteins are encoded by separate messenger RNAs (mRNAs), which are believed to be derived from a single gene by alternative splicing. In the present study, we report the gestational profiles of mouse GHR (mGHR) and mGHBP mRNAs in adipose tissue, brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, mammary gland, muscle, ovary, and pituitary and describe the ontogeny of both messages in the liver of late gestational fetuses and newborns. A ribonuclease protection assay was used to simultaneously detect the two transcripts with an antisense RNA probe complementary to the extracellular domain- and hydrophilic tail-encoding regions of the mRNAs. Levels of hepatic GHR and GHBP mRNAs increased with fetal age. In the maternal liver, the abundance of both messages increased during pregnancy, with GHR mRNA levels rising less than GHBP mRNA. Also, the ratio between the two messages in this tissue increased during pregnancy in favor of mGHBP mRNA. In maternal mammary tissue, however, expression levels of both transcripts decreased gradually throughout pregnancy starting on day 8 of gestation and declining further during lactation, reaching a minimum 7-fold reduction on day 6 of lactation relative to nonpregnant values. Although there were no pregnancy-related changes in the remaining tissues we examined, the ratio of the abundance of GHR mRNA to that of GHBP mRNA varied tissue specifically. In the maternal brain, heart, liver, and mammary gland, mGHBP mRNA levels were higher than mGHR mRNA levels. In the maternal muscle and adipose tissue, the abundance of the two mRNA species was comparable. These observations indicate a gestational, developmental, and tissue-specific regulation of the expression of mGHR and mGHBP species.

Development of a homologous radioimmunoassay for mouse growth hormone receptor.

A RIA for mouse GH receptor (mGHR) was developed. A synthetic peptide corresponding to the carboxyl-terminal 14 amino acids of the mGHR (GHR-2 peptide) was used as the antigen for antiserum production. The synthetic peptide was also used as the standard and radioligand in the RIA. The ability of the antiserum to recognize the mGHR was demonstrated by quantitating receptor concentrations in liver and mammary gland from virgin and 15-day-pregnant mice. Serial dilutions of these samples yielded displacement curves parallel to the synthetic peptide. No significant cross-reactivity was seen with serum from virgin or 15-day-pregnant mice, mGH, recombinant mGH-binding protein (mGHBP), a synthetic peptide identical to the hydrophilic tail of mGHBP, or a 14-amino acid synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acids 338-351 of mGHR (GHR-1 peptide). The concentration range of the mGHR RIA was 0.5-200 nM, and the intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 6.5% and 6.1%, respectively. The concentration of liver GHR increased significantly during pregnancy compared with that in virgin mice, from 0.246 +/- 0.045 pmol/mg protein (mean +/- SEM; n = 5) in the virgin animals to 1.015 +/- 0.159 pmol/mg protein (n = 5) in pregnant mice. In contrast, the mGHR concentration in the mammary gland decreased significantly during pregnancy from 0.606 +/- 0.201 pmol/mg protein (mean +/- SEM; n = 5) to 0.299 +/- 0.027 pmol/mg protein (n = 5). Comparison of the total number of binding sites in livers from virgin and pregnant mice using the GH RRA and the combined results of the mGHR and mGHBP RIAs showed that the two methods gave almost identical results for livers from virgin animals, or 0.363 +/- 0.063 pmol/mg protein (mean +/- SEM; n = 3) and 0.371 +/- 0.008 pmol/mg protein (n = 3) for the GH RRA and the mGHR plus mGHBP RIAs, respectively. However, in livers from pregnant animals, the combined results from the mGHR and mGHBP RIAs were approximately 1.8 times higher than those obtained by the GH RRA, or 6.732 +/- 0.612 pmol/mg protein (mean +/- SEM; n = 3) and 3.693 +/- 0.67 pmol/mg protein (n = 3) for the mGHR plus the mGHBP RIAs and the GH RRA, respectively. The increase in the total GH binding capacity in livers from pregnant mice compared with those from virgin animals was largely due to an increase in the GHBP content. The increase in GHR was only 2.4-fold, or from 0.153 +/- 0.01 pmol/mg protein (mean +/- SEM; n = 3) in virgin mice to 0.364 +/- 0.03 pmol/mg protein (n = 3) in the 15-day-pregnant mice, whereas GHBP increased almost 30-fold during pregnancy, or from 0.218 +/- 0.003 pmol/mg protein (mean +/- SEM; n = 3) in virgin animals to 6.369 +/- 0.607 pmol/mg protein (n = 3) in pregnant mice.

A mouse growth hormone-binding protein RIA: concentrations in maternal serum during pregnancy.

A RIA for mouse growth hormone-binding protein (mGHBP) was developed. A 28-amino acid synthetic peptide corresponding to the carboxyl-terminal 27 amino acids of mGHBP plus an additional cysteine residue at the amino-terminus was coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and used as the antigen for antiserum production. The ability of the antiserum to recognize mGHBP was demonstrated by incubating mouse serum with 125I-iodomouse GH (mGH) in the presence of increasing concentrations of antiserum and subsequent immunoprecipitation. The antiserum precipitated mGHBP in a dose-dependent manner. The uncoupled synthetic peptide was used as the standard and radioligand in the RIA. Serial dilutions of sera from non-pregnant or 17-days-pregnant mice yielded displacement curves parallel to the synthetic peptide, with serum from 17-days-pregnant mice being 32 times more effective than serum from non-pregnant mice for a given dilution. The relative concentration of mGHBP in maternal serum on days 5, 11, and 15 of pregnancy was 1, 17, and 39, respectively.

Production of mouse placental lactogen-I and placental lactogen-II by the same giant cell.

In previous studies, mouse placental lactogen I (mPL-I) and mPL-II were localized to trophoblast giant cells in the placenta at midpregnancy. The present study was undertaken to determine whether mPL-I and mPL-II are produced by two distinct populations of giant cells or by the same cells. A heterogeneous population of cells that included trophoblast giant cells was obtained by enzymatic dispersion and Percoll gradient centrifugation of placentas from days 7 and 9 of pregnancy. Cells from day 7 of pregnancy were cultured in serum-free medium for 5 days, and cells that contained mPL-I, mPL-II, or both mPL-I and mPL-II were identified by double-staining immunocytochemistry. The percentage of PL cells that contained both mPL-I and mPL-II increased from about 30% on the first day of culture to about 90% on the third, and then declined to zero by day 5. Between 50% and 60% of the PL cells contained only mPL-I on the first 2 days of culture, and then the percentage of PL cells containing only mPL-I declined. The percentage of cells that contained only mPL-II was low for 3 days (<10%) and then increased to about 80% of the PL-containing cells by day 5. Cells from day 9 of pregnancy were analyzed for the release of mPL-I and/or mPL-II by sequential reverse hemolytic plaque assay. Cells that released only one of the PLs, as well as those that released both PLs, were identified. A shift was present in the type of PL released by the cells when they were followed for two consecutive days of culture. On day 1, most of the plaque-forming cells released only mPL-I, but by day 2, the fraction of plaque-forming cells that released only mPL-I declined whereas the fraction that released only mPL-II increased. Cells that released only mPL-I on the first day of culture and both mPL-I and mPL-II or only mPL-II on the second day of culture were observed. These data suggest that under these culture conditions, PL cells follow a pathway in which they initially produce only mPL-I, then both mPL-I and mPL-II, and finally only mPL-II. In vivo, there is a shift at midpregnancy in the type of PL that is produced by the mouse placenta, and these data suggest that this shift results, at least partly, from a change in gene expression in one population of giant cells.

Expression of a lactogen-dependent insulin-like growth factor-binding protein in cultured mouse mammary epithelial cells.

The ability of normal mouse mammary epithelial cells (MECs) to express insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) was examined. MECs were isolated from day 11 pregnant mice and cultured on floating collagen gels in serum-free basal medium. After 24 h, the medium was replaced with fresh medium with/or without mouse PRL (mPRL), mouse placental lactogen-I (mPL-I), mPL-II, mouse GH (mGH), IGF-I, and IGF-II, either alone or in combinations. The MECs were cultured for an additional 5 days before collection of conditioned medium (CM). The relative amount of IGFBPs present in the CM was determined by Western ligand blotting, and alpha-lactalbumin content was determined with a specific RIA. The CM of the MECs contained two IGFBPs, with approximate mol wt of 29K and 40-45K. The 40-45K IGFBP appears to be the mouse equivalent of IGFBP-3, but the identity of the 29K IGFBP is not presently known. The 29K IGFBP was not N-glycosylated and did not cross-react with antiserum to rodent IGFBP-2 or human IGFBP-1. Basal IGFBP expression was very low, but the addition of mPL-I, or mPL-II stimulated a marked increase in the amount of 29K IGFBP that was released into the CM and a lesser increase in the release of IGFBP-3. This increase in the release of 29K IGFBP was dose dependent, with increases found at concentrations as low as 1 ng/ml lactogen. mGH also stimulated the release of 29K IGFBP, but was less potent than any of the three lactogens. Treatment of MECs with either IGF-I or IGF-II increased the amount of both the 29K IGFBP and IGFBP-3 in the CM, with relative potencies similar to those of the lactogenic hormones. However, when either IGF-I or IGF-II was added together with one of the lactogenic hormones, the release of 29K IGFBP was increased in an additive manner. While the IGFs acted additively with the lactogenic hormones on the expression of 29K IGFBP, they did not stimulate alpha-lactalbumin production by the MECs or act to enhance the effects of the lactogenic hormones in stimulating alpha-lactalbumin production. This study demonstrates that IGFBPs are expressed in normal mouse MECs, and the release of these IGFBPs into the CM is hormonally regulated by both lactogenic hormones and IGFs.

Interaction of mouse placental lactogens and androgens in regulating progesterone release in cultured mouse luteal cells.

Pituitary hormones are essential for the maintenance of the corpus luteum in the pregnant mouse during the first half of gestation. Thereafter, hormones from the placenta take over the luteotropic role of the pituitary hormones. Mouse placental lactogen-I (mPL-I) and mPL-II, two PRL-like hormones produced in the placenta, are probably necessary for the maintenance of the corpus luteum in the latter half of pregnancy. A culture system of luteal cells from pregnant mice was developed to investigate the role of hormones from the placenta that may be important for the function of the corpus luteum. Mice were killed on days 10, 14, and 18 of pregnancy, and the corpora lutea were excised from the ovaries and digested in 0.1% collagenase, 0.002% DNase for 1 h. The resulting luteal cell suspension was plated onto 96-well plates coated with fibronectin (1 x 10(5) cells/well) and cultured for 1-3 days. Medium was changed daily. The cells were treated with various concentrations and combinations of mPL-I, mPL-II, mouse PRL, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, 17beta-estradiol (E2), testosterone, hydroxyflutamide, cycloheximide, actinomycin D, and fadrozole to study the effects of these different treatments on progesterone (P4) production. The three lactogens (mPL-I, mPL-II, and mouse PRL) all stimulated the release of P4 from the luteal cells. The potency of the lactogens was similar and did not depend on the stage of pregnancy at which the luteal tissue was obtained. However, the responsiveness of the cells to all hormone-stimulated P4 release was gradually reduced the later in pregnancy the tissue was collected. Androgens also stimulated the release of P4 from the luteal cells, and when administered together, the lactogens and the androgens acted synergistically to stimulate P4 release. The androgens acted directly but not through conversion to E2, as determined by the findings that 1) the effects of the androgens could not be reproduced by E2 administration, 2) nonaromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone was as effective as aromatizable androgens, and 3) aromatase inhibitor did not prevent the action of the androgens to stimulate the P4 release. The effect of the androgens on the P4 release was rapid, occurring within 15 min of hormone administration. It was not prevented by inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis, and the intracellular androgen receptor antagonist hydroxyflutamide did not affect the androgen action. Therefore, the androgen effects were not mediated through the intracellular androgen receptor and de novo protein synthesis was not needed for androgen-stimulated P4 release.

Biological, immunological, and binding properties of recombinant mouse placental lactogen-I.

Mouse placental lactogen-I (mPL-I) cDNA was inserted into a eukaryotic expression vector and introduced into Chinese hamster ovary cells. Cell lines that secrete high concentrations of mPL-I were isolated, and this glycoprotein was purified from the cell culture-conditioned medium. Recombinant mPL-I (mPL-Ir) is very similar to placental mPL-I (mPL-Ip) in its recognition by polyclonal antisera raised against either mPL-Ip or mPL-Ir, in displacing [125I]iodo-mPL-II from binding sites on mouse liver microsomal membranes, and in stimulating the synthesis of alpha-lactalbumin in primary cultures of mouse mammary epithelial cells. Structural comparison of mPL-Ir and mPL-Ip by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that mPL-Ir comprises several proteins with mol wt ranging from 34.5-38K, while mPL-Ip consists of a similar set of proteins with mol wt ranging from 36.5-42K. Treatment of the two proteins with neuraminidase resulted in similar 2-4K decreases in mol wt. Treatment of mPL-Ip with peptide:N-glycosidase-F to remove asparagine-linked oligosaccharide chains resulted in the formation of 28K and 29K mol wt species, while treatment of mPL-Ir with the same enzyme yielded 28K and 28.5K mol wt products.

Refractoriness to mammary carcinogenesis in the parous mouse is reversible by hormonal stimulation induced by pituitary isografts.

We have previously reported that mouse mammary epithelial cells transformed in vitro yield tumors which vary qualitatively and quantitatively as a function of the mitogenic environment in which the cells are propagated at the time of carcinogen treatment. One milieu supportive of transformation in vitro was medium supplemented with progesterone and prolactin as the mitogens. We have performed parallel studies in which virgin mice were isografted with pituitaries resulting in elevated serum titers of progesterone and prolactin. After carcinogen treatment, these mice developed mammary tumors which included those identical genotypically and phenotypically to tumors induced in vitro in cells grown in progesterone and prolactin during carcinogen exposure. Our current working hypothesis is that the mitogenic environment around the time of carcinogen administration can modulate the incidence and phenotype of the resultant tumors. To further test this hypothesis, we have evaluated the susceptibility of hormonally-stimulated parous mice to chemically induced mammary carcinogenesis since parity is known to significantly reduce the susceptibility of the mouse mammary gland to carcinogenesis. Virgin or multiparous BALB/c mice were isografted with two pituitaries. Five weeks after surgery, the mice were injected with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU; 50 micrograms/g i.v.). Mammary carcinomas arose in 85% (11/13) with a median latency of 22.8 weeks and 1.9 tumors per virgin mouse and 80% (24/30) with a median latency of 22.1 weeks at a frequency of 1.9 tumors per parous mouse. Only 14% (2/14) of the non-isografted, age-matched parous controls developed tumors when injected with MNU. Fourteen parous mice receiving only pituitary isografts (no MNU), did not develop mammary carcinomas within the 7-month period of the study. These results demonstrate that parous BALB/c mice are refractory to MNU-induced mammary carcinogenesis and that this refractoriness is not permanent, but can be overcome by hormonal stimulation mediated by pituitary isografts.

Differential expression of the growth hormone receptor and growth hormone-binding protein in epithelia and stroma of the mouse mammary gland at various physiological stages.

Increasing evidence suggests that GH is important in normal mammary gland development. To investigate this further, we studied the distribution and levels of growth hormone receptor (GHR) and GH-binding protein (GHBP) in the mouse mammary gland. At three weeks of age, the epithelial component of the right fourth inguinal mammary gland of female mice was removed. These animals were then either maintained as virgins until they were killed or they were mated. One group of the mated mice was killed on day 18 of pregnancy and the remaining mated animals were allowed to carry their pups until term and were killed on day 6 of lactation. At the time of death, both the intact left and the de-epithelialized right mammary glands were collected from all three groups. Some of the intact glands served as a source of epithelial cells, free of stroma. The mRNA levels for GHR and GHBP were measured in intact glands, epithelia-cleared fat pads, and isolated mammary epithelial cells. GHR and GHBP mRNAs were expressed in both the mammary epithelium and stroma. However, the levels of both GHR and GHBP mRNAs were significantly higher in the stroma as compared with the epithelium component. This increase for both mRNAs was from 3- to 12-fold at each physiological state examined. In the intact gland, both GHR and GHBP transcripts were highest in virgins, declined during late pregnancy, and the lowest levels were found in the lactating gland. GHBP and GHR protein concentrations were also assessed in intact glands and epithelia-free fat pads. Similar to the mRNAs, GHR and GHBP protein levels (means+/-s.e.m.) in intact glands were highest in virgin mice (0.891+/-0.15 pmoles/mg protein and 0.136+/-0.26 pmoles/mg protein respectively), declined during late pregnancy (0. 354+/-0.111 pmoles/mg protein and 0.178+/-0.039 pmoles/mg protein respectively), and were lowest during lactation (0.096+0.037 pmoles/mg protein and 0.017+0.006 pmoles/mg protein respectively). Immunocytochemistry utilizing specific antisera against mouse (m) GHR and mGHBP revealed that the two proteins are localized to both the stroma and parenchyma of mouse mammary glands, with similar patterns of immunostaining throughout the different physiological stages analyzed. GHR immunolocalized to the plasma membrane and cytosol of mammary epithelial cells and adipocytes, whereas the GHBP immunostaining was nuclear and cytosolic. In conclusion, we report here that GHR and GHBP mRNAs and proteins are expressed in both the epithelium and the stroma of mammary glands of virgin, pregnant, and lactating mice. In intact glands, GHR and GHBP proteins, as well as their transcripts are higher in abundance in virgin relative to lactating mice. At all physiological stages, GHR and GHBP mRNA levels are higher in the stroma compared with the parenchyma. These findings indicate that the actions of GH in the mammary gland are both direct through its binding to the epithelia, and indirect by binding to the stroma and stimulation of IGF-I production which, in turn, affects mammary epithelial development.

Lactogenic response of cultured mouse mammary epithelial cells to mouse placental lactogen.

The ability of mouse placental lactogen (mPL), mouse prolactin (mPRL), mouse GH (mGH) and ovine prolactin (oPRL) to stimulate synthesis of alpha-lactalbumin was tested in a primary culture of mouse mammary gland epithelial cells. Mammary tissue was obtained from 10-day pregnant Swiss Webster mice, enzymatically dissociated and the cells were cultured on floating collagen gels for 5 days. The basic culture medium consisted of Nutrient Mixture F12/Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (1:1, v/v), containing 10 mg insulin/1, 5 mg cortisol/l, 10 micrograms epidermal growth factor/l, 5 g bovine serum albumin/l and 50 mg gentamycin/l. Mouse PL, mPRL, mGH and oPRL were added to the basic medium in concentrations from 1 microgram/l to 1 mg/l. Accumulation of alpha-lactalbumin in the culture medium was measured. For that purpose, mouse alpha-lactalbumin was purified from mammary tissue obtained from lactating Swiss Webster mice and a radioimmunoassay was developed. Mouse PL, mPRL and oPRL stimulated a dose-dependent increase in alpha-lactalbumin secretion. Mouse GH also caused a significant, but dose-independent, increase in alpha-lactalbumin secretion. Mouse PL showed the greatest activity in stimulating alpha-lactalbumin secretion. It was concluded that mPL is an important lactogenic hormone in the latter half of pregnancy in the mouse, when circulating mPRL concentrations are low.

Effects of continuous intravenous infusion of an ovine placental extract enriched in placental lactogen on plasma hormones, metabolites and metabolite biokinetics in non-pregnant sheep.

Continuous intravenous infusions of saline or of a placental extract containing ovine placental lactogen were given to three non-pregnant, non-lactating ewes over periods of 36 h, 1 week apart. During saline infusion no placental lactogen was detected in jugular vein plasma. but infusion of the placental extract raised the placental lactogen concentration from undetectable to 40-50 micrograms/l, similar to concentrations in ewes with one fetus on day 90 of pregnancy. By comparison with the saline control period, infusion of the placental extract consistently increased both plasma concentrations and irreversible loss of nonesterified fatty acids. Plasma concentrations of glucose and urea, but not irreversible loss of these metabolites, were consistently increased. Although the placental extract was not subjected to extensive purification, it was enriched in placental lactogen and contained no detectable contamination with insulin, prolactin or growth hormone. The results are suggestive of a role for placental lactogen in modifying metabolism and acting during pregnancy to provide nutrients for fetal metabolism.

Prolactin receptor expression in the epithelia and stroma of the rat mammary gland.

The importance of prolactin (PRL) in regulating growth and differentiation of the mammary gland is well known. However, it is not well established whether PRL acts solely on the mammary epithelia or if it can also directly affect the mammary stroma. To determine where PRL could exert its effects within the mammary gland, we investigated the levels of expression and the localization of the PRL receptor (PRLR) in the epithelia and stroma of the rat mammary gland at different physiological stages. For these studies, we isolated parenchymal-free 'cleared' fat pads and intact mammary glands from virgin, 18-day-pregnant and 6-day-lactating rats. In addition, intact mammary tissues were enzymatically digested to obtain epithelial cells, free of stroma. The mammary tissues, intact gland, stroma and isolated epithelia, were then used for immunocytochemistry, protein extraction and isolation of total RNA. PRLR protein was detected in tissues using specific polyclonal antisera (PRLR-l) by immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis. Messenger RNA for PRLR was measured by ribonuclease protection assay. Immunocytochemistry and Western blots with the PRLR-1 antisera detected PRLR in wild-type rat and mouse tissues, whereas the receptor protein was absent in tissues from PRLR gene-deficient mice. PRLR was found to be present both in the epithelia and stroma of mammary glands from virgin, pregnant and lactating rats, as determined by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. Western blots revealed the predominance of three bands migrating at 88, 90 and 92 kDa in each of the rat mammary samples. These represent the long form of the PRLR. During pregnancy and lactation, PRLR protein increased in the epithelial compartment of the mammary gland but did not change within the stromal compartment at any physiological stage examined. We also found PRLR mRNA in both the epithelia and stroma of the mammary gland. Again, the stroma contained lower levels of PRLR mRNA compared with the epithelia at all physiological stages examined. Also, the PRLR mRNA levels within the stroma did not change significantly during pregnancy or lactation, whereas PRLR mRNA within the epithelia increased twofold during pregnancy and fourfold during lactation when compared with virgin rats. We conclude from this study that PRLR is expressed both in the stromal and epithelial compartment of the mammary gland. This finding suggests PRL may have a direct affect on the mammary stroma and by that route affect mammary gland development.