Fig. 4.

Effect of lack of leptin-dependent STAT3 signaling on the ability of mammary EPI to grow into a cleared fat pad. A 1-mm³ piece of epithelial tissue was dissected from female mice lacking leptin-dependent STAT3 signaling (s/s) or their WT counterparts and transplanted in a cleared MFP of s/s or WT mice. Donor and recipient mice were 20–22 d of age at the time of transplantation. Recombined mammary glands were dissected and analyzed by whole-mount staining 6 wk later. Data are representative of four to six transplantations for each donor-recipient category.