| First Author | Lund LR | Year | 2000 |
| Journal | Development | Volume | 127 |
| Issue | 20 | Pages | 4481-92 |
| PubMed ID | 11003846 | Mgi Jnum | J:64966 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1891528 | Doi | 10.1242/dev.127.20.4481 |
| Citation | Lund LR, et al. (2000) Lactational competence and involution of the mouse mammary gland require plasminogen. Development 127(20):4481-92 |
| abstractText | Urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression is induced in the mouse mammary gland during development and post-lactational involution. We now show that primiparous plasminogen-deficient (Plg(-)(/)(-)) mice have seriously compromised mammary gland development and involution. All mammary glands were underdeveloped and one-quarter of the mice failed to lactate. Although the glands from lactating Plg(-)(/)(-) mice were initially smaller, they failed to involute after weaning, and in most cases they failed to support a second litter. Alveolar regression was markedly reduced and a fibrotic stroma accumulated in Plg(-)(/)(-) mice. Nevertheless, urokinase and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were upregulated normally in involuting glands of Plg(-)(/)(-) mice, and fibrin did not accumulate in the glands. Heterozygous Plg(+/)(-) mice exhibited haploinsufficiency, with a definite, but less severe mammary phenotype. These data demonstrate a critical, dose-dependent requirement for Plg in lactational differentiation and mammary gland remodeling during involution. |
