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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Indirect Immunofluorescence on Frozen Sections of Mouse Mammary Gland
Published on: December 1, 2015
Immune cell location and function during post-natal mammary gland development
Johanna R Reed1, Kathryn L Schwertfeger
1Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, Graduate Program in Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Abstract:
Post-natal mammary gland development requires complex interactions between the epithelial cells and various cell types within the stroma. Recent studies have illustrated the importance of immune cells and their mediators during the various stages of mammary gland development. However, the mechanisms by which these immune cells functionally contribute to mammary gland development are only beginning to be understood. This review provides an overview of the localization of immune cells within the mammary gland during the various stages of post-natal mammary gland development. Furthermore, recent studies are summarized that illustrate the mechanisms by which these cells are recruited to the mammary gland and their functional roles in mammary gland development.
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