Effects of actinomycin D combined with testosterone on regression of in vitro cultured mammary buds of the fetal mouse
Colard, C.; Gomot, L.
Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de ses Filiales 174(2): 141-145
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-9026 PMID: 6446957 Document Number: 154792
Mammary glands removed from 14-day-old mouse embryos and cultivated for 2 days at 37 deg C in Eagle's liquid medium all showed a characteristic female development, with a continuous basal lamina and no signs of degeneration in the ectodermal cells of the neck. When testosterone (10-5M) was added to the medium, however, the glands decreased in vol. and under the microscope there was clear evidence of the regression that occurs in 14-day-old male embryos. These effects of testosterone were not modified by addition of actinomycine D (0.05 mu g/ml( to inhibit protein synthesis. Actinomycin D alone, without testosterone, produced nucleolar segregation in the gland and mesenchyma cells, but the glands remained clearly delimited by a continuous basal lamina. Results suggest that testosterone acts indirectly via mesenchyma cells.