Avtor/Urednik		Kralj, Metka; Pipan, Nada
Naslov		Degradation processes in different functional states of the mouse mammary gland
Tip		članek
Vir		Period Biol
Vol. in št.		Letnik 97, št. 3
Leto izdaje		1995
Obseg		str. 201-6
Jezik		eng
Abstrakt		Background and purpose: mammary gland is secretory active only during lactation period. When the lactationis interrupted the gland involutes. The role of autophagy and apoptotic cell death in resting, lactating and involuting mouse mammary gland was studied in different functional states of the mammary gland. Materials and Methods: The mammary gland of nonlactating and lactating mice and the involuting mammary gland was studied by electron microscopy. Ultrastructural and cytochemical analysis of acid phosphatase activity was made. Involution was induced by application of 2-Br-alpha ergocryptine alone or in combination with simultaneous weaning. Results: The results showed that some secreatory activity occurs even in the resting mammary gland but the secretory products are before extrusion degraded by autophagy. Few cells with morphological characteristics of apoptotic cell death were also found in the resting epithelium but no apoptotic bodies and autophagosomes as well as a poor acid phosphatase activity were detected during lactation. Autophagy and lysosomal activity reappeared on the second day of involution induced by 2-Br-alpha ergocryptine. Intense apoptotic cell death was triggered by 2-Br-alpha ergocryptine combined with weaning. Conclusions: The results indicate that apoptosis in the mammary gland epithelium may not depend on prolactine level alone and suggest that autophagy and lysosomal activity may be important for the regulation of cell death in the resting and involuting mammary gland.
Deskriptorji		MAMMAE BROMOCRIPTINE MICE MICROSCOPY, ELECTRON ACID PHOSPHATASE