Expression of the gene encoding growth hormone in the human mammary gland

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.80.10.3094· OSTI ID:441138

Mol, J A; Misdorp, W; Rijnberk, A ^[1]

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1. Utrecht Univ. (Netherlands); and others

Progestins cause a syndrome of growth hormone (GH) excess and enhanced mammary tumorigenesis in the dog. This has been regarded as being specific for the dog. Recently we reported that progestin-induced GH excess originates from foci of hyperplastic ductular epithelium of the mammary gland in the dog. In the present report we demonstrate by reverse-transcriptase PCR and immunohistochemistry that a main factor involved in tissue growth, i.e. GH, is also expressed in normal and neoplastic human mammary glands. The gene expressed in the human mammary gland proved to be identical to the gene encoding GH in the pituitary gland. The role of progesterone in the GH expression of the human mammary gland needs, however, to be proven. It is hypothesized that this locally produced hGH may play a pathogenetic role in breast cancer. 21 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 441138
• Journal Information: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Journal Name: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 80; ISSN JCEMAZ; ISSN 0021-972X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
DOGS
GENE REGULATION
GENES
MAMMARY GLANDS
NEOPLASMS
PITUITARY GLAND
POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION
PROGESTERONE
STH