• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.231-236
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• 2000

Recent studies have clearly shown that the expression of genes for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its receptor in the rat reproductive organs including ovary, testis, placenta uterus and mammary gland. Moreover, luteinizing hormone (LH) classically known to be a main target product of GnRH in anterior pituitary has been found in rat gonads. These findings suggested the presence of local circuit composed of GnRH and LH in the rat gonads. The present study was undertaken to elucidate whether the genes for LH and its receptor are expressed in rat mammary gland. Expression of LH and its receptor genes in the rat mammary gland was demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and specific LH radioimmunoassay (RIA). The LH${\beta}$ transcripts in the mammary gland from cycling rats contained the pituitary type of LH${\beta}$ exons 1~3 encoding the entire LH${\beta}$ polypeptide but lacked the rat testis-specific LH${\beta}$ exon(s). Presence of ${\alpha}$ -subunit transcripts in the rat mammary gland were determined by RT-PCR. The cDNA fragments encoding exons 2~7 of rat LH receptor transcripts were amplified in both rat ovary and mammary gland samples. We could detect the GnRH expression in mammary gland from cycling virgin rats, and this result disagreed with previous report that mammary GnRH expression is occured in lactating rats only. Considerable amounts of immunoreactive LH molecules with good RIA parallelism in standard curve were detected in crude extracts from the rat mammary gland, indicating that the immunoreactive LH materials in the gland might be identical to authentic pituitary LH. To our knowledge, the present study demonstrated for the first time the expression of LH subunits and LH receptor in the rat mammary gland. Our findings suggested that the mammary gland might be the novel source and target of LH and the mammary LH could be act as a local regulator with auto-and/or paracrine manner under the regulation of local GnRH.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.55-57
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• 2003

A nine-year-old female Yorkshire terrier dog showing mammary secretion mixed with blood and pus for 5 month duration was presented. Cytologically mammary secretion consisted of many pleomorphic tumor cells, RBC, and neutrophil. Tumor cells were characterized by polyhedral pleomorphic nuclei with smudged chromatin and basophilic cytoplasm with many secretory vacuoles. N/C ratio was very high. Therefore it was diagnosed as mammary gland adenocarcinoma. Histological examination confirmed cytological diagnosis. From these results cytology isfor the diagnosis of secreting mammary gland adenocarcinoma is very simple and accurate for the diagnosis of secreting mammary gland adenocarcinoma.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.462-466
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• 2001

To understand molecular mechanisms of mouse mammary gland involution, clones were isolated by differential screening of a cDNA library. Partial sequences of a clone showed 100% identity to cDNA sequences of mouse lysozyme P gene. Northern analysis was performed to examine expression levels of lysozyme mRNA in mammary gland at several physiological states. Expression of lysozyme gene was induced at involution day 5 compared with lactating stage. High levels of lysozyme mRNA were also detected at virgin tissues. Two types of separate genes, P and M lysozyme, have been known in mouse, and we found that both lysozyme P and M genes were expressed in mammary tissues by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The lysozyme enzyme activity determined by lysoplate assay was also higher in involuted mammary tissues compared with lactating tissues, showing a similar trend to its mRNA levels. Lysozyme is an antimicrobial protein and involved in host defense mechanism. The increase in lysozyme gene expression may help to prevent microbial infection during mammary gland involution at which stage the residual milk in the mammary gland provides good nutritional sources for microbial growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2007

In our previous study, overexpression of extracellular proteinase inhibitor (Expi) gene accelerated apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells, and induced expression of B cell activating factor (BAFF) gene. In this study, we found induction of BAFF-receptor (BAFF-R) gene expression in the Expi-transfected cells. A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) gene is another TNF family member and the closest known relative of BAFF. We found induction of APRIL gene expression in the Expi-overexpressed apoptotic cells. NF-${\kappa}$B gene was also induced in the Expi-overexpressed cells. Expression patterns of BAFF and APRIL pathway-related genes were examined in in vivo mouse mammary gland at various reproductive stages. Expression levels of BAFF gene were very low at early pregnancy, increased from mid-pregnancy, and peaked at lactation, and thereafter decreased at involution stages of mammary gland. Expression of BAFF-R gene was highly induced in involution stages compared to lactation stages. Thus, expression patterns of BAFF-R gene were correlated to apoptotic status of mammary gland: active apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells occurs at involution stage of mammary gland. Expression levels of NF-${\kappa}$B gene were higher in involution stages compared to lactation stages. We analyzed mRNA levels of bcl-2 family genes from different stages of mammary development. Bcl-2 gene expression was relatively constant during lactation and involution stages. There was a slight increase in bcl-xL gene expression in involution stages compared to lactation state. Bax gene expression was highly induced in involution stage. Our results suggest that signaling pathways activated by both BAFF and ARRIL in mammary gland point towards NF-${\kappa}$B activation which causes upregulation of bax.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.325-333
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• 1997

Recent evidence indicates that growth factors modulate response of mammary epithelial cells to environmental stress. The objective of this study was to examine the cellular and biochemical responses of mammary tissue to environmental stress caused by artificial mastitis. For experimental a, pp.oach, toxins of most mastitis causing organisms(Staph. aureus or Strep. agalactiae) and heat stress(42$^{\circ}C$) were artificially exposed to mammary tissue. Effects of these environmental stresses on cell growth, cell death and heat shock protein synthesis were examined. Lactating mammary tissure were cultured under basal medium(DMEM) su, pp.emented with insulin(10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) and aldosterone(1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). All treatment groups in heat stress at 42$^{\circ}C$ incubation significantly decreased DNA synthesis rates in comparison with those at 39$^{\circ}C$(P<0.05), however, these decreased DNAa synthesis rates were recovered by addition of adenosine(10$\mu$M) and IGFI(10ng/ml). Similar results were obtained when tissue growth rates were measured by DNA content/tissue. Strep. agalactiae toxin did not significantly decreased DNA content/tissue in comparison with no treatment of bacterial toxin with or without heat stress, however, tended to decrease DNA contents/tissue without heat stress. In the fluorography analysis, heat stress(42$^{\circ}C$ incubation) slightly increased 35S-methoionine labelled 70kd protein synthesis. These results indicate that environmental stress caused by artificial mastitis slightly decreased mammary growth or mammary size, however, these results could be recovered by addition of adenosine and IGF-I.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.221-229
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• 2000

Lactogenesis in mammary gland is under the control of various lactogenic hormones including hypophysial growth hormone and prolactin. Recent studies reported that such pituitary lactogenic hormones are also expressed in mammary cells as well as in pituitary. For the purpose to analyze the role of these non-pituitary hormones in mammary cells, $\beta$ -lactoglobulin (BLG) gene promoter was selected as a model system. The growth hormone suppressed BLG promoter activity when it was applied alone on cultured mammary HCll cells. Along with lactogenic hormones such as insulin, prolactin and glucocorticoid, however, it significantly enhanced expression of BLG promoter activity in a dosage- dependent manner. Exogenous expression of the growth hormone gene in cultured mammary cells also strongly promoted cell proliferation and BLG promoter activity. Bovine growth hormone promoter, on the contrary, did not revealed any notable activity. Above results suggest that endogenous expression of the pituitary hormone genes in mammary cells is not a regulation leakage but a physiological control. Moreover, artificial overproduction of the growth hormone in mammary gland may help increase milk production.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.269-273
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• 2012

In the present study, we investigated the expression patterns of ErbB family proteins in the pre-pubertal and pubertal mammary glands of dairy cows in association with gland development. For this study, we performed immunohistochemistry for ErbB-1-4 and Ki-67 cell proliferation marker. We found that the pre-pubertal and pubertal mammary glands had typical structures, including ducts and terminal end buds embedded in the stroma, and no development of lobuloalveolar structures. On immunohistochemistry, ErbB-2 and ErbB-3 were strongly expressed in the cytoplasm and nuclei in the epithelial cells of mammary ducts and terminal end buds, and stromal cells, whereas ErbB-1 and ErbB-4 were weakly expressed only in the cytoplasm of gland epithelium and stromal cells, irrespective of the developmental stage. Cell proliferation was inactive in the mammary gland cell compartments in both phases. Thus, expression of the ErbB family in the developing mammary glands was not associated with their functional effects, such as cell proliferation and lobuloalveolar development. In conclusion, ErbB receptors were differentially expressed in the epithelial and stromal cells of virgin mammary glands of dairy cows. Compared with rodent mammary glands, ErbB-3 and ErbB-4 were found to be highly expressed in bovine mammary glands.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.311-316
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• 2008

A 7-year-old female Shih Tzu dog with lots of masses in the whole mammary gland was presented to the surgery department of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the Cheju National University. After surgical excision, all mammary samples were referred to Pathology Department of Veterinary Medicine. Grossly, masses were measuring up to $6.5{\times}4{\times}1cm$ and on cut surface of masses in right 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and left 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th mammary masses were well delineated and firm, sulphur yellow, solid round to oval shape. Microscopically, most neoplastic sweat glands were severely proliferated in dermis and subcutis. Most tubules were lined by round to oval shaped epithelium with eosinophilic cytoplasm, hyperchromatic nuclei with high mitotic figures and severe central necrosis. The neoplastic epithelium also had PAS-positive diastase-resistant cytoplasmic granules, but negative with Perls iron stain. The left 2nd mass was well delineated, and had several dark brown areas and yellowish white glittered areas. Mass was well circumscribed with dense connective tissue. Neoplastic areas contained irregular sized mammary gland with papillary grown luminal epithelial cells in single or double cells layer with mitotic figures and small amounts of proliferated myoepithelial cells. Proliferated myoepithelial cells also produced slightly basophilic mucinous materials. Based on the gross, histopathologic and special staining characteristics, this dog was diagnosed as 90% of apocrine sweat gland aenocarcinoma and 10% mammary. complex adenomas in mammary masses. In our best knowledge, this is the first report for concurrent occurrence of apocrine sweat gland adenocarcinoma and mammary gland complex adenoma in mammary masses of the same dog.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.761-765
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• 2013

Background Partially resecting ribs of the recipient site to facilitate easy anastomosis of the internal mammary vessels to free flaps during breast reconstruction can cause chest wall pain or deformities. To avoid this, the intercostal perforating branches of the internal mammary vessels can be used for anastomosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the location and size of the internal mammary perforator vessels based on clinical intraoperative findings and to determine their reliability as recipient vessels for breast reconstruction with microsurgical free tissue transfer. Methods Twelve patients were preoperatively screened for the presence of internal mammary perforators using Doppler tracing. After modified radical mastectomy was performed by a general surgeon, the location and size of the internal mammary perforator vessels were microscopically investigated. The external diameter was examined using a vessel-measuring gauge from a mechanical coupling device, and the distance from the mid-sternal line to the perforator was also measured. Results The largest arterial perforator averaged 1.5 mm, and the largest venous perforator averaged 2.2 mm. Perforators emerging from the second intercostal space had the largest average external diameter; the second intercostal space also had the largest number of perforators arising from it. The average distance from the mid-sternal line to the perforator was 20.2 mm. Conclusions Internal mammary perforators presented consistent and reliable anatomy in this study. Based on these results, the internal mammary perforators appear to have a suitable diameter for microvascular anastomosis and should be considered as an alternative recipient vessel to the internal mammary vessel.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.465-474
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• 1998

This study was examined on the effect of ex-vivo immunotherapy in 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary carcinogenesis. Sprague-Dawley female 40 rats were divided into Jour groups. As a positive control, Group I was intubated with DMBA, 5 mg /100 g body weight and single dose, at experimental onset. Group II was treated ex-vivo immunotherapy with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly I : C) and Group III was treated with Interleukin-2 (IL-2). Group IV was negative control. All rats were sacrificed at 16 weeks after DMBA intubation. Mammary gland wet weight, dry fat free tissue weight, incidence of tumor, and the number of lobules, alveolar buds, terminal end buds, and terminal ducts were examined. Morphological changes of the mammary gland after treated with DMBA were analyzed by whole mount and histopathological method. As results, the induced mammary tumors of Group I, II and III were 60%, 33% and 0%, respectively. Histopathological types of induced-mammary tumors were adenoma, adenocarcinoma and carcinosarcoma. In analysis of the whole mount method, the number of the terminal end buds, terminal ducts and lobules were significantly lower in Group II (p<0.01) and III (p<0.01) than DMBA alone treated Group I. In microscopic observation, hyperplastic alveolar nodules were significantly lower in Group III than Group I (p<0.01). In conclusion, IL-2 had strong inhibitory effect on the mammary gland tumorigenesis induced by DMBA in rats. Whole mount method may be a useful technique to assess the mammary carcinogenesis. Moreover, hyperplastic alveolar nodules were very sensitive parameter to assess the mammary carcinogenesis.