Abstract
A quantitative microscopic technique was employed to examine the distribution of mitotic activity in the rat mammary gland. The frequency distribution of mitoses per unit volume of lobuloalveolar mammary gland epithelium in virgin Lewis/Mai rats at each phase of the estrous cycle were determined and compared to the expected Poisson frequency distributions, assuming random mitotic activity. Both pooled data and data from individual rats were compared to expected Poisson distributions. At each phase of the estrous cycle, the pooled observed distributions deviated significantly from Poisson distributions. Sixty-seven percent (72/108) of the observed frequency distributions obtained from individual rats also deviated significantly from expected Poisson distributions. These data indicate a nonrandom distribution of mitoses in rat lobuloalveolar mammary gland epithelium. This observation suggests that local cell products and/or a variation in the extent of replicative synchrony of lobuloalveolar cell populations may determine in part the pattern of mitotic activity in this tissue. A nonrandom distribution of mitoses in mammary epithelium may have significance in relation to the genesis of hyperplastic and neoplastic lesions of the mammary gland.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Cameron I. L., Gosslee D. G., Pilgrim C. The spatial distribution of dividing and DNA-synthesizing cells in mouse epithelium. J Cell Physiol. 1965 Dec;66(3):431–435. doi: 10.1002/jcp.1030660315. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cone C. D., Jr Observations of self-induced mitosis and autosynchrony in sarcoma cell networks. Cancer Res. 1968 Oct;28(10):2155–2161. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- DAVIS J. C. THE EFFECT OF CORTISOL ON MITOSIS IN THE SKIN OF THE MOUSE. J Pathol Bacteriol. 1964 Jul;88:247–254. doi: 10.1002/path.1700880131. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FAWCETT D. W., ITO S., SLAUTTERBACK D. The occurrence of intercellular bridges in groups of cells exhibiting synchronous differentiation. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1959 May 25;5(3):453–460. doi: 10.1083/jcb.5.3.453. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gibbs S. J., Casarett G. W. Spatial distribution of cells in mitotic and DNA-synthetic phases of the cell cycle in hamster cheek pouch epithelium. J Dent Res. 1972 Jan-Feb;51(1):30–38. doi: 10.1177/00220345720510012401. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HARKNESS R. D. The spatial distribution of dividing cells in the liver of the rat after partial hepatectomy. J Physiol. 1952 Apr;116(4):373–379. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1952.sp004711. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nagasawa H., Yanai R. Frequency of mammary cell division in relation to age: its significance in the induction of mammary tumors by carcinogen in rats. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1974 Feb;52(2):609–610. doi: 10.1093/jnci/52.2.609. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nagasawa H., Yanai R., Taniguchi H. Importance of mammary gland DNA synthesis on carcinogen-induced mammary tumorigenesis in rats. Cancer Res. 1976 Jul;36(7 Pt 1):2223–2226. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rowe L., Dixon W. J. Clustering and control of mitotic activity in human epidermis. J Invest Dermatol. 1972 Jan;58(1):16–23. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep13077200. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rowe L., Dixon W. J. Mitoses in human epidermis. Clustering, sister cells, and findings suggestive of a spreading mitotic stimulus. Oncology. 1975;31(3-4):133–138. doi: 10.1159/000225016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SCHEVING L. E. Mitotic activity in the human epidermis. Anat Rec. 1959 Sep;135:7–19. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091350103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]