A Biochemical Test of Artificial Mammogenesis and Lactogenesis As Models of the Natural Processes

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Abstract
Hypophysectomized, oophorectomized rats were injected with various combinations of estrogen, progesterone, growth hormone, prolactin, and hydrocortisone. The mammary glands of these rats were homogenized and assayed for nitrogen, ribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid, alkaline phosphatase activity, β-glucuronidase activity, glutamic-aspartic transaminating activity, and succinic oxidizing activity. By comparing the levels of these various biochemical factors in artificially prepared mammary glands to those in glands where mammogenesis and lactogenesis had occurred naturally, it was possible to judge the extent to which artificial mammogenesis and lactogenesis match the normal processes. Mammary glands of rats injected with suitable doses of estrone, progesterone, growth hormone and prolactin seemed to match the glands of rats in the last half of pregnancy as far as the listed biochemical factors were concerned. When rats whose mammary glands had been artificially prepared in this way were then given injections of growth hormone, prolactin and hydrocortisone, initiation of lactation was apparent, and by the biochemical criteria mentioned these glands matched those in rats at the last day of pregnancy. The levels of biochemical constituents did not all change parallel with every hormonal treatment. Instead, different hormonal treatments seemed to have somewhat specific effects.