Role of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I in mammary development

Mammary glands from 3- to 4-week-old mice were incubated in whole organ culture to determine the effects of GH, PRL, and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on lobulo-alveolar development and milk protein expression. Virgin mice were implanted with pellets of estrogen and progesterone (1:1000). After 9 days, abdominal no. 4 glands were removed and place on siliconized lens paper in Waymouths' medium supplemented with insulin (Ins), aldosterone, hydrocortisone, and epidermal growth factor. Concentrations of bovine GH, ovine GH, rat GH, or ovine PRL added to the medium varied from 0-1 micrograms/ml. IGF-I was added to replace either Ins or PRL up to 1 microgram/ml. When glands were incubated with Ins, aldosterone, hydrocortisone, and 250 ng/ml PRL, they exhibited lobulo-alveolar development and expressed the milk protein beta-casein. When GH was substituted for PRL, little lobulo-alveolar development occurred, although beta-casein mRNA was expressed at low levels. Either PRL or GH at 1 microgram/ml induced lobulo-alveolar development and beta-casein mRNA. Addition of epidermal growth factor to whole organ culture with GH or PRL (1 microgram/ml) was equally effective in stimulating lobulo-alveolar development. IGF-I did not substitute for PRL, GH, or insulin in tissue maintenance. It is clear that GH at high concentrations can act directly on mouse mammary tissue to induce both lobulo-alveolar development and casein expression.