Vascular Response of the Breast to Estrogen1

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Abstract
Permeability changes in the microcirculation have been demonstrated in cleared whole mounts of breast tissue by the technique of vascular labeling, which permits identification of leaking blood vessels by means of visible accumulations of colloidal mercuric sulfide particles within the vascular walls. This study compares the degree of vascular labeling in the breasts of estrogen-treated and untreated castrate female rabbits as induced by the submammary injections of histamine and estrogen. An intense response of the mammary microcirculation in treated animals to both histamine and estrogen is shown by the degree and extent of mercuric sulfide labeling. A response of similar intensity is provoked in untreated animals by histamine, but not by estrogen. In the latter case, the vascular response is absent and is associated with a reduction in the concentration of histamine in the breast. Marked vascular labeling in the castrate animal stimulated by submammary estrogen is seen only after prior treatment with the sex hormone. Mammary histamine levels are normal in these estrogentreated castrate animals. The permeability changes induced by both histamine and estrogen are obtunded to the same degree after the administration of an antihistamine drug.

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