Isolation of rat mammary epithelial cells for polyamine analysis

Mammary epithelial cells were isolated from either abdominal-inguinal glands or mammary tumours of rats, after enzymic digestion of the tissues, and were analysed for polyamine content. Optimum conditions were developed for the isolation of cells in sufficient yield for the analysis of polyamines from 1 g of mammary gland or 0.5 g of tumour tissue. Complete recoveries of the polyamines in the tissues were achieved in the isolated epithelial cells.