Mammary Gland Ontogeny and Neoplasia in Oxytocin Deficient Mice

Abstract

The hormonal environment in which mammary tumors develop and are maintained is important for understanding not only the progression, but also the potential strategies for treatment, of breast cancer. A possible role for endogenous oxytocin (OT) in human breast cancer has not been extensively studied. OT functions as both a hormone and neuropeptide. In the periphery, OT contracts the myoepithelial cells of the breast to elicit milk ejection during lactation and the myometrial cells of the uterus at parturition. Mammary myoepithelial cells and uterine myometrial cells express receptors for OT (OTR), which mediate its contractile effects within these cells. The OTR is a seven transmembrane domain polypeptide that belongs to the family of G protein-coupled receptors.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA383019

Entities

People

  • Janet Amico

Organizations

  • University of Pittsburgh

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Breast Cancer
  • Carcinoma
  • Cell Line
  • Cells
  • Chemistry
  • Culture Techniques
  • Cultured Cells
  • Electron Microscopy
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Glands
  • Hormones
  • Immune Serums
  • Mammary Glands
  • Neoplasms
  • Ontogeny
  • Pituitary And Hypothalamic Hormones And Analogues
  • Tumor Cell Line

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Medicine

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • Women's Health and Cancer Risk Research: African American Women and Pregnancy Outcomes.