MAMMARY CELL-DIFFERENTIATION IN-VITRO

The functional differentiation of mammary epithelial cells requires sp ecific hormones, growth factors and chemical signals of the cellular e nvironment. These signals consist in cell comunication with the extrac ellular matrix and cell-cell interactions which through an intrincated mechanism lead to the events that trigger milk secretion. The mammary epithelial cells HC11 from the cellular line COMMA-1D were cultured i n the presence of lactogenic hormones such as insuline, dexametazone a nd prolactin and further stimulated with the epidermal growth factor. In these conditions the cell differentiated, presenting quantitative c hanges in shape and volume on their organelle cell structure. These ce lls synthesize betha casein and the intermediary filaments of keratin demonstrated by inmunoblotting as well as electronic micrographies.