• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.101-103
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• 2001

Scanning Electron Microscopy of twelve lactating buffalo mammary gland was done. The lactating mammary gland showed alveolus, arrangement of blood vessels and myoepithelial cells on the alveolus, the formation of lobules and interlobular connective tissue. From the exposed alveolar lumen fat globule formation can be seen which is still attached to the alveolar surface by microvilli. This technique should further be extended to study the alveolar structure in detail during different stages of mammary gland development in buffaloes.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.231-236
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• 2000

Recent studies have clearly shown that the expression of genes for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its receptor in the rat reproductive organs including ovary, testis, placenta uterus and mammary gland. Moreover, luteinizing hormone (LH) classically known to be a main target product of GnRH in anterior pituitary has been found in rat gonads. These findings suggested the presence of local circuit composed of GnRH and LH in the rat gonads. The present study was undertaken to elucidate whether the genes for LH and its receptor are expressed in rat mammary gland. Expression of LH and its receptor genes in the rat mammary gland was demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and specific LH radioimmunoassay (RIA). The LH${\beta}$ transcripts in the mammary gland from cycling rats contained the pituitary type of LH${\beta}$ exons 1~3 encoding the entire LH${\beta}$ polypeptide but lacked the rat testis-specific LH${\beta}$ exon(s). Presence of ${\alpha}$ -subunit transcripts in the rat mammary gland were determined by RT-PCR. The cDNA fragments encoding exons 2~7 of rat LH receptor transcripts were amplified in both rat ovary and mammary gland samples. We could detect the GnRH expression in mammary gland from cycling virgin rats, and this result disagreed with previous report that mammary GnRH expression is occured in lactating rats only. Considerable amounts of immunoreactive LH molecules with good RIA parallelism in standard curve were detected in crude extracts from the rat mammary gland, indicating that the immunoreactive LH materials in the gland might be identical to authentic pituitary LH. To our knowledge, the present study demonstrated for the first time the expression of LH subunits and LH receptor in the rat mammary gland. Our findings suggested that the mammary gland might be the novel source and target of LH and the mammary LH could be act as a local regulator with auto-and/or paracrine manner under the regulation of local GnRH.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.229-232
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• 2016

Mammary gland tumors are very rare in male dogs. In this study, four mammary gland tumors from 3 male dogs (2 intact, 1 neutered) were collected from local animal hospitals. The dogs included two purebred Shih Tzu (1 intact, 1 neutered) and one intact purebred Cocker Spaniel. The mean age of dogs with mammary gland tumors was 9 years (5-12 years). Two dogs had a solitary mass, whereas one dog had two mammary masses. Of the four tumor masses, three were observed in the fourth or fifth mammary glands, and one was observed in the third mammary gland. According to histopathologic examinations, all four mammary masses from three dogs were benign tumors including two benign mixed tumors in one case and two complex adenomas. There were no history of obesity, testicular tumors, diabetes, and sex hormonal therapy in any male dogs with mammary tumors. Surgical excision was the only reported treatment for these tumors. No recurrence or metastasis was recorded up to 25 months after surgery.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.274-278
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• 2021

An 11-year-old, intact female, Miniature Poodle presented with an abdominal mass. The abdominal mass was located around the right fifth mammary gland. The surgically removed mammary mass was subjected to histopathological examination. Based on the microscopic interpretation, a final diagnosis of an intermediate grade infiltrative mammary comedocarcinoma was established. Computed tomography for metastasis evaluation after surgical resection of the tumor showed enlarged right medial iliac and right inguinal lymph nodes, and a micronodule in the accessory lung lobe, suggesting metastasis of the mammary gland tumor. Doxorubicin, a chemotherapeutic drug, was administered six times at three week intervals. However, despite chemotherapy, the masses around the fourth and fifth mammary gland on the right side enlarged in size, and the treatment was discontinued at the request of the owner. The anticancer response to mammary comedocarcinoma is poor and the patient is in hospice management. This is the first attempt to treat a case of canine mammary comedocarcinoma in South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.311-316
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• 2008

A 7-year-old female Shih Tzu dog with lots of masses in the whole mammary gland was presented to the surgery department of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the Cheju National University. After surgical excision, all mammary samples were referred to Pathology Department of Veterinary Medicine. Grossly, masses were measuring up to $6.5{\times}4{\times}1cm$ and on cut surface of masses in right 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and left 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th mammary masses were well delineated and firm, sulphur yellow, solid round to oval shape. Microscopically, most neoplastic sweat glands were severely proliferated in dermis and subcutis. Most tubules were lined by round to oval shaped epithelium with eosinophilic cytoplasm, hyperchromatic nuclei with high mitotic figures and severe central necrosis. The neoplastic epithelium also had PAS-positive diastase-resistant cytoplasmic granules, but negative with Perls iron stain. The left 2nd mass was well delineated, and had several dark brown areas and yellowish white glittered areas. Mass was well circumscribed with dense connective tissue. Neoplastic areas contained irregular sized mammary gland with papillary grown luminal epithelial cells in single or double cells layer with mitotic figures and small amounts of proliferated myoepithelial cells. Proliferated myoepithelial cells also produced slightly basophilic mucinous materials. Based on the gross, histopathologic and special staining characteristics, this dog was diagnosed as 90% of apocrine sweat gland aenocarcinoma and 10% mammary. complex adenomas in mammary masses. In our best knowledge, this is the first report for concurrent occurrence of apocrine sweat gland adenocarcinoma and mammary gland complex adenoma in mammary masses of the same dog.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.843-854
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• 1997

Sixteen mammary gland tumors were collected from Seoul National University and Kangwon National University. The average age of the bitches with mammary gland tumor was 10 years. Total 17(60.7%) out of 28 tumor masses observed in 4th and 5th glands. Classification of these tumors according to Hampe and Misdorp were simple adenoma, complex adenoma, benign mixed tumor, papillary adenocarcinoma, solid adenocarcinoma and malignant mixed tumor. Immunohistochemical reaction of the intermediate filaments against normal canine mammary gland showed as followed; anti-cytokeratin 18 was strong and anti-cytokeratin 14 was moderate to the luminal epithelium. Anti-cytokeratin 14 and anti-pancytokeratin to the myoepithelium were showed strong, but anti-vimentin was weak in reactivity. Anti-vimentin to the interstitial cells was represented strong reactivity. The origin of cartilage in mixed tumor of canine mammary gland was studied immunohistochemically with antibodies against intermediate filament. In mammary gland mixed tumors, cartilage tumor tissues were surrounded with the irregularly demarcated three zones composed of adjacent star shaped cells in myxoid areas, proliferative spindle shaped cells and basal located proliferated cells. From basal proliferated cells to star shaped cells, the immunohistochemical reactivity of myoepithelium specific anti-pancytokeratin was decreased gradually and the reactivity of interstitial cell specific anti-vimentin was increased gradually. Based on these immunohistochemical staining patterns, we suggested that the origin of cartilagenous components in canine mammary gland mixed tumor is most likely to the proliferation and metaplsia of myoepithelium.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2016

Effectiveness of transgene transfer into genome is crucially concerned in mass production of the bio-pharmaceuticals using genetically modified transgenic animals as a bioreactor. Recently, the mammary gland has been considered as a potential bioreactor for the mass production of the bio-pharmaceuticals, which appears to be capable of appropriate post-translational modifications of recombinant proteins. The mammary gland tissue specific vector system may be helpful in solving serious physiological disturbance problems which have been a major obstacle in successful production of transgenic animals. In this study, to minimize physiological disturbance caused by constitutive over-expression of the exogenous gene, we constructed new retrovirus vector system designed for mammary gland-specific expression of the hEPO gene. Using piggyBac vector system, we designed to express hEPO gene under the control of mammary gland tissue specific and lactogenic hormonal inducible goat ${\beta}$-casein or mouse Whey Acidic Protein (mWAP) promoter. Inducible expression of the hEPO gene was confirmed using RT-PCR and ELISA in the mouse mammary gland cells treated with lactogenic hormone. We expect the vector system may optimize production efficiency of transgenic animal and reduce the risk of global expression of transgene.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.462-466
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• 2001

To understand molecular mechanisms of mouse mammary gland involution, clones were isolated by differential screening of a cDNA library. Partial sequences of a clone showed 100% identity to cDNA sequences of mouse lysozyme P gene. Northern analysis was performed to examine expression levels of lysozyme mRNA in mammary gland at several physiological states. Expression of lysozyme gene was induced at involution day 5 compared with lactating stage. High levels of lysozyme mRNA were also detected at virgin tissues. Two types of separate genes, P and M lysozyme, have been known in mouse, and we found that both lysozyme P and M genes were expressed in mammary tissues by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The lysozyme enzyme activity determined by lysoplate assay was also higher in involuted mammary tissues compared with lactating tissues, showing a similar trend to its mRNA levels. Lysozyme is an antimicrobial protein and involved in host defense mechanism. The increase in lysozyme gene expression may help to prevent microbial infection during mammary gland involution at which stage the residual milk in the mammary gland provides good nutritional sources for microbial growth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2007

In our previous study, overexpression of extracellular proteinase inhibitor (Expi) gene accelerated apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells, and induced expression of B cell activating factor (BAFF) gene. In this study, we found induction of BAFF-receptor (BAFF-R) gene expression in the Expi-transfected cells. A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) gene is another TNF family member and the closest known relative of BAFF. We found induction of APRIL gene expression in the Expi-overexpressed apoptotic cells. NF-${\kappa}$B gene was also induced in the Expi-overexpressed cells. Expression patterns of BAFF and APRIL pathway-related genes were examined in in vivo mouse mammary gland at various reproductive stages. Expression levels of BAFF gene were very low at early pregnancy, increased from mid-pregnancy, and peaked at lactation, and thereafter decreased at involution stages of mammary gland. Expression of BAFF-R gene was highly induced in involution stages compared to lactation stages. Thus, expression patterns of BAFF-R gene were correlated to apoptotic status of mammary gland: active apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells occurs at involution stage of mammary gland. Expression levels of NF-${\kappa}$B gene were higher in involution stages compared to lactation stages. We analyzed mRNA levels of bcl-2 family genes from different stages of mammary development. Bcl-2 gene expression was relatively constant during lactation and involution stages. There was a slight increase in bcl-xL gene expression in involution stages compared to lactation state. Bax gene expression was highly induced in involution stage. Our results suggest that signaling pathways activated by both BAFF and ARRIL in mammary gland point towards NF-${\kappa}$B activation which causes upregulation of bax.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.9.1-9.6
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• 2022

Canine mammary gland tumors are the most common neoplasms in intact female dogs. Approximately half of all mammary tumors are malignant, and there is a risk of metastasis, which is associated with a poor prognosis. This study was to evaluate the prognostic factors of canine mammary gland tumors and the risk factors associated with the development of malignant tumors. From 2014 to 2020, 60 dogs with mammary gland tumors that underwent surgical treatment were evaluated in this retrospective study. Tumor size, TNM stage, and histopathological results were prognostic factors for 2-year survival after surgery. Every 10 mm increase in tumor size, increased the risk of death within 2 years after surgery 1.213 times. Dogs with TNM stage IV or V had 8.667 fold risk of death within 2 years after surgery. The 2-year survival rate for dogs with benign tumors was 90.2% and for malignant tumors was 67.3%. Tumor size is the most important prognostic factor for canine mammary gland tumors. As tumor size increased by 10 mm, the risk for development of malignant tumors increased by 1.487 times. Tumors larger than 30 mm are highly likely to be malignant, and metastatic evaluation and wide resection should be considered.