TGF-beta 1-induced inhibition of mouse mammary ductal growth: developmental specificity and characterization

TGF-beta 1, implanted into growing mouse mammary glands, was previously shown to inhibit ductal growth in an apparently normal and fully reversible manner. In this report we extend these findings to show that TGF-beta 1 inhibition is highly specific. In pregnant or hormone-treated mice, doses of TGF-beta 1 that were capable of fully inhibiting ductal elongation had little effect on the proliferation of lobuloalveolar structures. Additionally, the inhibitory action of TGF-beta 1 on ducts is epithelium-specific, resulting in cessation of DNA synthesis in the rapidly proliferating epithelium of mammary end buds, but does not inhibit DNA synthesis in the stroma surrounding the end buds. At the cellular level, transplant studies showed that TGF-beta 1 inhibited the regeneration of mammary ductal cells when implanted into mammary gland-free fat pads by suppressing the formation of new end buds, without inhibiting maintenance DNA synthesis in ductal lumenal epithelium; this observation indicates the potential of TGF-beta 1 to maintain patterning by suppressing adventitious lateral branching. The time-course of TGF-beta 1 inhibition of end buds was rapid, with cessation of DNA synthesis by 12 hr, followed by loss of the stem cell (cap cell) layer. The question of glandular exposure to TGF-beta 1 administered in EVAc implants was also investigated. Incorporation of TGF-beta 1 into EVAc was found not to degrade the hormone, while the release kinetics of the ligand from implants, its retention in the gland, and the demonstrable zone of exposure were consistent with observed inhibitory effects. These results support the hypothesis that TGF-beta 1 is a natural regulator of mammary ductal growth.     

P190A RhoGAP is required for mammary gland development

P190A and p190B Rho GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) are essential genes that have distinct, but overlapping roles in the developing nervous system. Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that p190B is required for mammary gland morphogenesis, and we hypothesized that p190A might have a distinct role in the developing mammary gland. To test this hypothesis, we examined mammary gland development in p190A-deficient mice. P190A expression was detected by in situ hybridization in the developing E14.5 day embryonic mammary bud and within the ducts, terminal end buds (TEBs), and surrounding stroma of the developing virgin mammary gland. In contrast to previous results with p190B, examination of p190A heterozygous mammary glands demonstrated that p190A deficiency disrupted TEB morphology, but did not significantly delay ductal outgrowth indicating haploinsufficiency for TEB development. To examine the effects of homozygous deletion of p190A, embryonic mammary buds were rescued by transplantation into the cleared fat pads of SCID/Beige mice. Complete loss of p190A function inhibited ductal outgrowth in comparison to wildtype transplants (51% vs. 94% fat pad filled). In addition, the transplantation take rate of p190A deficient whole gland transplants from E18.5 embryos was significantly reduced compared to wildtype transplants (31% vs. 90%, respectively). These results suggest that p190A function in both the epithelium and stroma is required for mammary gland development. Immunostaining for p63 demonstrated that the myoepithelial cell layer is disrupted in the p190A deficient glands, which may result from the defective cell adhesion between the cap and body cell layers detected in the TEBs. The number of estrogen- and progesterone receptor-positive cells, as well as the expression levels of these receptors was increased in p190A deficient outgrowths. These data suggest that p190A is required in both the epithelial and stromal compartments for ductal outgrowth and that it may play a role in mammary epithelial cell differentiation.     

Long-term effects of fetal exposure to low doses of the xenoestrogen bisphenol-A in the female mouse genital tract

Developmental exposure to estrogenic chemicals induces morphological, functional, and behavioral anomalies associated with reproduction. Humans are routinely exposed to bisphenol-A (BPA), an estrogenic compound that leaches from dental materials and plastic food and beverage containers. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of in utero exposure to low, environmentally relevant doses of BPA on the development of female reproductive tissues in CD-1 mice. In previous publications, we have shown that this treatment alters the morphology of the mammary gland and affects estrous cyclicity. Here we report that in utero exposure to 25 and 250 ng BPA/ kg of body weight per day via osmotic pumps implanted into pregnant dams at Gestational Day 9 induces alterations in the genital tract of female offspring that are revealed during adulthood. They include decreased wet weight of the vagina, decreased volume of the endometrial lamina propria, increased incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine into the DNA of endometrial gland epithelial cells, and increased expression of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) and progesterone receptor in the luminal epithelium of the endometrium and subepithelial stroma. Because ERalpha is known to be expressed in these estrogen-target organs at the time of BPA exposure, it is plausible that BPA may directly affect the expression of ER-controlled genes involved in the morphogenesis of these organs. In addition, BPA-induced alterations that specifically affect hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function may further contribute to the anomalies observed at 3 mo of age, long after the cessation of BPA exposure.     

Regulated expression patterns of IRX-2, an Iroquois-class homeobox gene, in the human breast

In the mouse mammary gland, homeobox gene expression patterns suggest roles in development and neoplasia. In the human breast, we now identify a family of Iroquois-class (IRX) homeobox genes. One gene, IRX-2, is expressed in discrete epithelial cell lineages being found in ductal and lobular epithelium, but not in myoepithelium. Expression is absent from associated mesenchymal adipose stroma. During gland development, expression is concentrated in terminal end buds and terminal lobules and is reduced in a subset of epithelial cells during lactation. In contrast to observations for many homeobox genes in the mouse mammary gland in which homeobox gene expression is lost on neoplastic progression, IRX-2 expression is maintained in human mammary neoplasias. Data suggest IRX-2 functions in epithelial cell differentiation and demonstrate regulated expression during ductal and lobular proliferation as well as lactation.     

Colony stimulating factor-1 is required to recruit macrophages into the mammary gland to facilitate mammary ductal outgrowth

Mammary gland development initiates postnatally with the development of terminal end buds (TEBs) at the end of the rudimentary ducts. These grow out through the fat pad and bifurcate to lay down the rudimentary ductal tree. At the initiation of their development, TEBs recruit to their surrounding stroma a substantial population of macrophages. Using mice homozygous for a null mutation in the gene for the macrophage growth factor, colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1), that are severely depleted in macrophages, we demonstrated that CSF-1-regulated macrophages are required for normal branching morphogenesis in the mammary gland. However, these mice have a pleiotropic phenotype as a result of the generalized macrophage deficiency. To test that the effect of the mutation observed in the mammary gland was organ-autonomous, we developed a tetracycline-binary system whereby CSF-1 was specifically expressed in the mammary epithelium under the regulation of the MMTV-promoter. This restored mammary macrophage populations but not those in other tissues and corrected the branching morphogenesis defect. Inhibition of CSF-1 expression by tetracycline treatment for varying periods suggested that CSF-1-regulated macrophages are required throughout early mammary gland development. These data show that macrophages acting locally are required for branching morphogenesis of the mammary gland.     

Inhibition of mouse mammary ductal morphogenesis and down-regulation of the EGF receptor by epidermal growth factor

EGF, initially demonstrated to be a potent mitogen for a variety of cell types, has more recently been shown to inhibit proliferation of several cell lines. Few studies, however, have addressed the effects of EGF on growth and morphogenesis of tissues in vivo, particularly with regard to EGF as a possible inhibitor. We now demonstrate that EGF treatment of vigorously growing mammary ducts, administered directly to the glands by slow release plastic implants, inhibited normal ductal growth. Inhibition was restricted to the region around the implant and untreated glands in the same animal were normal, indicating direct effects of EGF. EGF-treated end buds were smaller and demonstrated reduced levels of DNA synthesis, although remnants of a stem (cap) cell layer persisted. Full inhibition of growth occurred within 3 days of implantation and required extended exposure to EGF, since treatment of 5 hr or less had no effect on ductal growth. At the lower inhibitory doses tested, growth resumed within 8 days, indicating reversibility of inhibition. No lobuloalveolar or hyperplastic response was seen. 125I-EGF autoradiography revealed that ductal growth inhibition was preceded by the disappearance of EGF receptors located in the cap cell layer of the end bud epithelium and in stromal cells adjacent to the buds. These results, in conjunction with our previous evidence demonstrating the growth-stimulatory effect by EGF on nonproliferating mammary ducts, suggest a growth regulatory role for EGF in mouse mammary ductal morphogenesis.     

Morphogenesis of the developing mammary gland: Stage-dependent impact of adipocytes

Mammary gland development is critically dependent on the interactions between the stromal and the epithelial compartments within the gland. These events are under the control of a complex interplay of circulating and locally acting hormones and growth factors. To analyze the temporal and quantitative contributions of stromal adipocytes, we took advantage of the FAT-ATTAC mice (apoptosis through triggered activation of caspase-8), a model of inducible and reversible loss of adipocytes. This loss can be achieved through the induced dimerization of a caspase-8 fusion protein. In the context of female mice, we can achieve ablation of mammary adipocytes relatively selectively without affecting other fat pads. Under these conditions, we find that adipocytes are essential for the formation of the extended network of ducts in the mammary gland during puberty. Beyond their role in development, adipocytes are also essential to maintain the normal alveolar structures that develop during adulthood. Loss of adipose tissue initiated 2 weeks after birth triggers fewer duct branching points and fewer terminal end buds (TEBs) and also triggers changes in proliferation and apoptosis in the epithelium associated with the TEBs. The reduced developmental pace that adipocyte-ablated glands undergo is reversible, as the emergence of new local adipocytes, upon cessation of treatment, enables the ductal epithelium to resume growth. Conversely, loss of local adipocytes initiated at 7 weeks of age resulted in excessive lobulation, indicating that adipocytes are critically involved in maintaining proper architecture and functionality of the mammary epithelium. Collectively, using a unique model of inducible and reversible loss of adipocytes, our observations suggest that adipocytes are required for proper development during puberty and for the maintenance of the ductal architecture in the adult mammary gland.     

The mouse mammary gland requires the actin-binding protein gelsolin for proper ductal morphogenesis

Gelsolin is an actin-binding/severing protein expressed in intracellular and secreted forms. It is a major regulator of the form and function of the actin cytoskeleton in most all cells. Here we demonstrate that female mice with a targeted deletion of the gelsolin gene (Gsn-/-) have defects in mammary gland morphogenesis. Two distinct defects were identified in the gelsolin-null mammary gland. First, the mammary anlage from Gsn-/- mice failed to elongate at the onset of puberty and remained rudimentary until approximately 9 weeks of age, early block (Gsn-/-(EB)). Second, after the mammary epithelium had filled the mammary fat pad, a complete lack of terminal branching, or late block, was observed (Gsn-/-(LB)). The Gsn-/-(EB) was seen in 70% of Gsn-/- mice and appeared to be dependent on a modifier gene(s) in addition to the loss of gelsolin. Gsn-/-(LB) was observed in all Gsn-/- mice. Terminal end buds (TEBs) were not evident in the mammary anlage from Gsn-/-(EB) mice until approximately 9 weeks of age. Cellular proliferation in the terminal ductal regions of Gsn-/-(EB) females was detected by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, but was less than that found in the TEBs of age-matched controls. In mice deficient for gelsolin, mammary gland architecture was unaltered at the histological level. Lobuloalveolar development was delayed in response to pregnancy in mammary glands of Gsn-/- mice but was otherwise normal. Lactation and involution in the gelsolin-null animals were similar to those of wild-type mice. Transplantation of epithelium devoid of gelsolin into a wild-type (GsnWT) mammary fat pad resulted in proper arborization of the ductal tree. Transplantation of GsnWT epithelium into the Gsn-/- fat pad recapitulated the lack of terminal branching seen in Gsn-/- females. These results indicate that gelsolin is required in the mammary stroma for proper ductal morphogenesis. Our results provide the first evidence of an actin regulatory protein affecting mammary ductal growth through stromal-epithelial communication.     

TOPOGRAPHY OF DNA SYNTHESIS IN THE MAMMARY GLAND OF THE C3H MOUSE AND ITS CONTROL BY OVARIAN HORMONES: AN AUTORADIOGRAPHIC STUDY

Tritium-labelled thymidine was injected 45 min before sacrifice into virgin female C3H/HeJ mice 7–23 weeks of age, as well as into 10-week-old mice which had been ovariectomized and treated daily with 1 μg of oestradiol-17β and/or 1 mg of progesterone. Autoradiographs were made of squash preparations of the mammary glands, stained by Feulgen's method. The following results were obtained: (1) During normal development of the gland, cells synthesizing DNA are abundant in terminal buds and virtually absent in duct epithelium. Hence ductal growth takes place by the addition of cells produced in the terminal end structures. (2) At 5–6 months, when mammary growth has ceased, a considerable number of cells synthesizing DNA can still be found in alveoli, though not in duct epithelium. Hence the alveolar cells constitute a renewal population in the adult virgin. Because they maintain the potentiality to divide, duct cells are a G₀ population. (3) Ovariectomy results in arrest of DNA synthesis within 3–5 days. Both oestradiol and progesterone restore DNA synthesis in alveoli but only progesterone is able to induce DNA synthesis in duct epithelium, and the differentiation of terminal buds into alveoli. This finding provides an explanation for the resumed proliferation of duct cells in pregnancy. (4) The number of cells engaged in DNA synthesis varies considerably among identical structures within the same gland. This may be due either to synchrony of cell replication and/or to fluctuations of proliferative activity in the gland.     

Growth of mouse mammary gland end buds cultured in a collagen gel matrix

End buds are the growing terminal structures of the ducts in the mammary gland. They are made up of undifferentiated epithelial cells that, under the hormonal milieu of adult and pregnant females, give rise to the ducts and alveoli of the mature gland. The end buds are of interest in understanding the developmental biology of the gland. They are also likely targets for many mammary carcinogens and, therefore, of interest in understanding the biology of mammary cancer. A method was developed for isolating end buds as a pure subpopulation from collagenase and hyaluronidase digested 4-week-old C57BL/Crgl mouse mammary glands. They were cultured within a rat tail collagen gel matrix for 3 weeks and fed with media containing various combinations of sera, hormones and growth-promoting factors. Growth in response to the different media was measured by photographing individual end bud colonies over time using dark field illumination. The growth of the individual colonies was quantitated using a computer-assisted photodensitometry method of determining the colonies' mass. The end buds showed the greatest growth response (greater than 20-fold increase in 3 weeks with a minimum doubling time of 48 h) to medium supplemented with 50% equine serum and cholera toxin or with less serum (15%) and epidermal growth factor (EGF), hormones and cholera toxin. Initially, the colonies grew logarithmically, then slowed as the colony size increased. This was due, in part, to the cessation of growth by the cells in the center. This end bud culture system differs from that of dissociated mouse mammary cells in a number of ways which are discussed.     

Nafoxidine administered to newborn female GR mice arrests the development of their mammary glands

Mice of the GR strain develop many hormone-dependent mammary tumors in response to estrogen and progesterone stimulation. Since this strain is so sensitive to steroid hormones, we administered a single dose of the antiestrogen Nafoxidine to female GR mice within 24 hours after their birth. This treatment arrested the development of their mammary glands and when the mice were adults, 10 weeks old, they did not cycle normally but were in a state of persistent estrus. Whole mounts of mammary glands from Nafoxidine-treated mice revealed cystic areas within some ducts and bulbous swellings at the ends of others. No hyperplastic alveolar nodules (HAN) were identified in the glands. In contrast, a single dose of 17 beta estradiol administered within 24 h after birth, resulted in a highly branched gland displaying typical end buds, a few alveoli and more HAN than were observed in glands of control adult mice of the same strain. Thus Nafoxidine treatment not only arrested the development of the mammary glands in female GR mice (causing them to appear "masculinized") but it also produced abnormalities within the glands.     

Similar growth pattern of mouse mammary epithelium cultivated in collagen matrix in vivo and in vitro

Mouse mammary ductal cells cultured in type I collagen gels give rise to three-dimensional multicellular outgrowths consisting of thin spikes which are often branched, and which may have pointed or blunt ends. The significance of these spikes to normal ductal morphogenesis has been unclear, since identical structures are not known to occur in vivo; conversely, it has not been possible to maintain in gel culture the highly structured end buds which are characteristic of ductal elongation in the animal. In order to evaluate whether the pattern of radiating spikes observed in collagen gel cultures results from chemical or physical peculiarities of the culture environment, a small volume of unpolymerized type I collagen solution was injected into mammary gland-free fat pads of young adult mice. After the bubble of collagen had polymerized, an implant of mammary ductal epithelium was introduced into the center of the gel. Histological examination of the implants after 3 to 6 days of growth revealed numerous small epithelial spikes, similar to those observed in gel culture, extending into the fibrous matrix. The early stages of regeneration of mammary implants placed in gland-free fat pads were then examined without the addition of exogenous collagen. In cases where the epithelium happened to contact a fibrous region of the fatty stroma, spikes were also seen to form in these natural collagenous substrates. Whether or not exogenous collagen was used, normal end buds were formed only when epithelial spikes contacted adipocytes. It was concluded that the three-dimensional pattern of radiating tubules in collagen gels in vitro is not merely an artifact of culture, but has a counterpart in vivo whereever regenerating mammary epithelium is surrounded by fibrous stroma. A model is presented in which the pattern of epithelial outgrowth is determined by the physical characteristics of the surrounding stroma; in collagen matrix a comparatively primitive and unspecialized type of morphogenesis occurs which may not require the participation of stromal cells. In contrast, epithelial-adipocyte interactions appear to be necessary for the formation of end buds and subsequent morphogenesis of fully structured mammary ducts.     

Mammary gland morphogenesis is enhanced by exposure to flaxseed or its major lignan during suckling in rats

The exposure of rats to 10% flaxseed (FS) or an equivalent level of its major lignan, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), during suckling enhances mammary gland differentiation, which protects against mammary carcinogenesis at adulthood. We determined whether this diet-induced mammary gland differentiation is mediated through the estrogenic pathway via epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and estrogen receptor (ER) signaling. Rats were fed the AIN-93G basal diet (BD) from day 7 of pregnancy until delivery and then randomized to consume BD, FS, or SDG during lactation. After weaning, female offspring were fed BD throughout the experiment. At postnatal day (PND) 21 and the proestrus phase on PND 49-51, mammary glands of offspring were analyzed for morphology, cell proliferation, and expression of EGFR, epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha, ER-alpha, and ER-beta. At PND 21, compared with the BD control, the number of terminal end buds (TEBs) and terminal ducts were increased by FS, whereas mammary epithelial cell proliferation was increased by both FS and SDG, suggesting that mammary morphogenesis was enhanced. Epithelial EGFR and stromal fibroblast EGF were increased by SDG, whereas epithelial ER-beta was decreased by FS. Conversely, at PND 49-51, a lower number of TEBs but a higher ratio of lobules to TEBs with decreased expression of EGFR or EGF was observed in both treatment groups. EGFR expression was positively associated with EGF expression and cell proliferation in TEB epithelium at PND 21. Urinary lignans of lactating dams were related to their offspring's indices of mammary gland development. In conclusion, exposure to FS or SDG during suckling enhanced mammary gland morphogenesis by modulation of EGFR and ER signaling, which led to more differentiated mammary glands at PND 49-51. The physiological outcomes of FS and SDG were similar, which suggests that SDG is partly responsible for the mammary gland differentiation effect.     

Mammary gland development in transforming growth factor beta1 null mutant mice: systemic and epithelial effects

The cytokine-transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFB1) is implicated in development of the mammary gland through regulation of epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation during puberty and pregnancy. We compared mammary gland morphogenesis in virgin Tgfb1(+/+), Tgfb1(+/-), and Tgfb1(-/-) mice and transplanted Tgfb1(+/+) and Tgfb1(-/-) epithelium to determine the impact of TGFB1 deficiency on development. When mammary gland tissue was evaluated relative to the timing of puberty, invasion through the mammary fat pad of the ductal epithelium progressed similarly, irrespective of genotype, albeit fewer terminal end buds were observed in mammary glands from Tgfb1(-/-) mice. The terminal end buds appeared to be normal morphologically, and a comparable amount of epithelial proliferation was evident. When transplanted into wild-type recipients, however, Tgfb1(-/-) epithelium showed accelerated invasion compared with Tgfb1(+/+) epithelium. This suggests that the normal rate of ductal extension in Tgfb1(-/-) null mutant mice is the net result of impaired endocrine or paracrine support acting to limit the consequences of unrestrained epithelial growth. By adulthood, mammary glands in cycling virgin Tgfb1(-/-) mice were morphologically similar to those in Tgfb1(+/+) and Tgfb1(+/-) animals, with a normal branching pattern, and the tissue differentiated into early alveolar structures in the diestrous phase of the ovarian cycle. Transplanted mammary gland epithelium showed a similar extent of ductal branching and evidence of secretory differentiation of luminal cells in pregnancy. These results reveal two opposing actions of TGFB1 during pubertal mammary gland morphogenesis: autocrine inhibition of epithelial ductal growth, and endocrine or paracrine stimulation of epithelial ductal growth.     

Epithelium-dependent extracellular matrix synthesis in transforming growth factor-beta 1-growth-inhibited mouse mammary gland

Exogenous transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta 1) was shown in earlier studies to reversibly inhibit mouse mammary ductal growth. Using small plastic implants to treat regions of developing mammary glands in situ, we now report that TGF-beta 1 growth inhibition is associated with an ectopic accumulation of type I collagen messenger RNA and protein, as well as the glycosaminoglycan, chondroitin sulfate. Both macromolecules are normal components of the ductal extracellular matrix, which, under the influence of exogenous TGF-beta 1, became unusually concentrated immediately adjacent to the epithelial cells at the tip of the ductal growth points, the end buds. Stimulation of extracellular matrix was confined to aggregations of connective tissue cells around affected end buds and was not present around the TGF-beta 1 implants themselves, indicating that the matrix effect was epithelium dependent. Ectopic matrix synthesis was specific for TGF-beta 1 insofar as it was absent at ducts treated with other growth inhibitors, or at ducts undergoing normal involution in response to endogenous regulatory processes. These findings are consistent with the matrix-stimulating properties of TGF-beta 1 reported for other systems, but differ in their strict dependence upon epithelium. A possible role for endogenous TGF-beta 1 in modulating a mammary epithelium-stroma interaction is suggested.     

Cadmium mimics the in vivo effects of estrogen in the uterus and mammary gland

It has been suggested that environmental contaminants that mimic the effects of estrogen contribute to disruption of the reproductive systems of animals in the wild, and to the high incidence of hormone-related cancers and diseases in Western populations. Previous studies have shown that functionally, cadmium acts like steroidal estrogens in breast cancer cells as a result of its ability to form a high-affinity complex with the hormone binding domain of the estrogen receptor. The results of the present study show that cadmium also has potent estrogen-like activity in vivo. Exposure to cadmium increased uterine wet weight, promoted growth and development of the mammary glands and induced hormone-regulated genes in ovariectomized animals. In the uterus, the increase in wet weight was accompanied by proliferation of the endometrium and induction of progesterone receptor (PgR) and complement component C3. In the mammary gland, cadmium promoted an increase in the formation of side branches and alveolar buds and the induction of casein, whey acidic protein, PgR and C3. In utero exposure to the metal also mimicked the effects of estrogens. Female offspring experienced an earlier onset of puberty and an increase in the epithelial area and the number of terminal end buds in the mammary gland.     

Vitamin D(3) receptor ablation alters mammary gland morphogenesis

Postnatal mammary gland morphogenesis is achieved through coordination of signaling networks in both the epithelial and stromal cells of the developing gland. While the major proliferative hormones driving pubertal mammary gland development are estrogen and progesterone, studies in transgenic and knockout mice have successfully identified other steroid and peptide hormones that impact on mammary gland development. The vitamin D(3) receptor (VDR), whose ligand 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) is the biologically active form of vitamin D(3), has been implicated in control of differentiation, cell cycle and apoptosis of mammary cells in culture, but little is known about the physiological relevance of the vitamin D(3) endocrine system in the developing gland. In these studies, we report the expression of the VDR in epithelial cells of the terminal end bud and subtending ducts, in stromal cells and in a subset of lymphocytes within the lymph node. In the terminal end bud, a distinct gradient of VDR expression is observed, with weak VDR staining in proliferative populations and strong VDR staining in differentiated populations. The role of the VDR in ductal morphogenesis was examined in Vdr knockout mice fed high dietary Ca(2+) which normalizes fertility, serum estrogen and neonatal growth. Our results indicate that mammary glands from virgin Vdr knockout mice are heavier and exhibit enhanced growth, as evidenced by higher numbers of terminal end buds, greater ductal outgrowth and enhanced secondary branch points, compared with glands from age- and weight-matched wild-type mice. In addition, glands from Vdr knockout mice exhibit enhanced growth in response to exogenous estrogen and progesterone, both in vivo and in organ culture, compared with glands from wild-type mice. Our data provide the first in vivo evidence that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and the VDR impact on ductal elongation and branching morphogenesis during pubertal development of the mammary gland. Collectively, these results suggest that the vitamin D(3) signaling pathway participates in negative growth regulation of the mammary gland.