Hormone induction of specific protein synthesis in midpregnant mouse mammary cell culture

Monolayer primary cell cultures of midpregnant mouse mammary cells were subjected to hormone stimulation under strictly defined conditions. Hormonal response was measured in terms of increase in rate of synthesis of mouse casein, using a double antibody precipitation technique. Cells stimulated by insulin plus prolactin plus cortisol plus estradiol plus progesterone showed a marked increase in rate of mouse casein synthesis over the controls. This specific product synthesis, which remains inducible in these cells for at least ten days, was detected either by labelled phosphoric acid or labelled amino acid incorporation. The mouse casein synthesized was identical, as judged by the identification techniques used, to that of mouse milk. Mouse midpregnant mammary explants in organ culture require insulin plus prolactin plus cortisol to express their full lactogenic capabilities. Nevertheless, when the same cells are dispersed and grown in monolayers they require ovarian steroids to elicit a lactogenic response as shown in this study. Ovarian steroids, therefore, are necessary in lactogenesis, although the fundamental nature of their action remains to be established.