Microtubules and actin-containing filaments of normal, preneoplastic, and neoplastic mouse mammary epithelial cells

The distribution and organization of microtubules (MT's) and actin-containing microfilaments (MF's) were examined in epithelial cells of primary cultures established from normal, preneoplastic, and neoplastic mouse mammary tissues and in cells of three clonal culture lines derived from murine mammary adenocarcinomas. No consistent differences in the cytoskeletal components were found among cell populations of the primary cultures as revealed either by indirect immunofluorescence using antibodies to tubulin and actin or by electron microscopy. Overall, the majority of cells in the three types of primary cultures possessed elaborate complexes of MT's and actin filaments after fluorescent staining with the appropriate antibodies, and abundant MT's and MF's were found in the cells at the ultrastructural level. Similar patterns of MT's and MF's were observed in cells of two of the clonal mammary tumor lines. Cells of the third line, however, exhibited intricate networks of MT's but had a reduction in actin cables detectable by the immunofluorescence procedure. Moreover, MF's were difficult to locate by electron microscopy. The results suggest that the lesion(s) in growth control in the neoplastic mammary cells may not involve any gross alterations in MT's or MF's.