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Lumen formation in the developing mouse mammary gland.
Journal of Embryology and Experimental Morphology
|February 1, 1983
Summary
Mammary gland lumen formation involves initial small cavities merging into a continuous tube. This process establishes the gland
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Epithelial Biology
Background:
- The mammary gland develops from invasive epithelial cords.
- Understanding lumen formation is key to mammary gland development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ultrastructural mechanisms of mammary gland lumen formation.
- To elucidate how a polarized epithelial lining is established.
Main Methods:
- Ultrastructural analysis of developing mammary gland tissue.
- Observation of epithelial cell behavior and lumen development.
Main Results:
- Initial lumen formation occurs via small, scattered cavities lined with microvilli.
- These small lumina enlarge and fuse to form the continuous central lumen.
- Polarized epithelial cells develop adjacent to the lumen; excess basal cells degenerate.
Conclusions:
- Mammary gland lumen formation is a multi-step process involving cell separation and fusion.
- The invasive solid cord structure of epithelial cells may be characteristic of invasive epithelia.
- A shift from polarized sheets to solid cords could be crucial in malignant epithelial tumor invasion.