Abstract: | These experiments demonstrate that serum, like insulin, can initiate DNA synthesis in mouse mammary gland epithelium, resulting in a three- to four-fold increase in the rate of DNA synthesis and number of cells synthesizing DNA. Both serum and insulin also increase the tritiated thymidine counts in the acid soluble material of these cells, suggesting that each alters thymidine transport. When combined at any concentration, these agents produce an additive effect on DNA synthesis, number of cells synthesizing DNA and thymidine transport. The factor(s) in serum responsible for these effects is associated with high molecular weight material. These experiments suggest that DNA synthesis and thymidine transport are affected independently by serum and insulin in mammary gland epithelium. |