Association of cellular and molecular responses in the rat mammary gland to 17β-estradiol with susceptibility to mammary cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We are using ACI and BN rats, which differ markedly in their susceptibility to 17β-estradiol (E2)-induced mammary cancer, to identify genetic variants and environmental factors that determine mammary cancer susceptibility. The objective of this study was to characterize the cellular and molecular responses to E2 in the mammary glands of ACI and BN rats to identify qualitative and quantitative phenotypes that associate with and/or may confer differences in susceptibility to mammary cancer.

Methods

Female ACI and BN rats were treated with E2 for 1, 3 or 12 weeks. Mammary gland morphology and histology were examined by whole mount and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Cell proliferation and epithelial density were evaluated by quantitative immunohistochemistry. A

SUBMITTER: Ding L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3924185 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature