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Virginia Tech

The Role of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I and IGF-binding Proteins in Mammary Gland Development

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Development of the mammary gland is likely mediated by locally produced growth factors acting in concert with circulating mitogens. To investigate the importance of mammary synthesis of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP), the initial objective was to evaluate the physiological effects of recombinant IGF-I synthesis in the mouse mammary gland. Expression of recombinant IGF-I was targeted by the mouse mammary tumor virus - long terminal repeat (MMTV-LTR) to the mammary glands of two lines (15 and 29) of transgenic mice. Mammary synthesis of recombinant IGF-I increased the frequency of appearance of mammary alveolar buds (71% vs. 21%) in transgenic compared with non-transgenic CD-1 mice. During lactation, mammary synthesis of recombinant IGF-I reduced the amount of endogenous native IGF-I secreted into milk of transgenic mice. Regardless of transgenesis, a shift in the milk IGFBP profile from predominantly IGFBP-3 to a lower molecular weight IGFBP occurred between d 8 and d 12 of lactation. The altered composition of milk from transgenic line 29 dams reduced by 27% the average daily gain of suckling litters, compared with CD-1 dams. Moreover, mammary glands of transgenic mice were less regressed after weaning than controls and were characterized by the presence of more organized secretory lobules. The second overall objective was to evaluate the regulation and physiological effects of mammary IGF-I and IGFBP synthesis in prepubertal heifers. Serum and extracts of mammary tissue at 5% concentration in media stimulated DNA synthesis 545% and 28%, respectively, in primary mammary epithelial organoids in collagen gel culture. Addition of IGFBP-3 strongly inhibited this growth response. High feeding level tended to increase IGFBP-3 levels in mammary tissue and reduced by 30% the growth response to mammary tissue extracts. Somatotropin increased the mitogenic response to mammary extracts at high feeding level and increased the tissue content of IGF-I by 46%. In summary, local synthesis of IGF-I and IGFBP is influenced by feeding level and exogenous somatotropin and contributes substantially to effects on mammary cell proliferation. Interactions of locally produced IGFBP-3 with IGF-I and other growth factors appear to be especially important when mammary growth is modulated by feeding level.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph. D.
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Dairy Science
Department dc:contributor.department
Dairy Science
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1998

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Weber, Miriam S.
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Akers, Robert Michael
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Eyestone, Willard H.
  • Pearson, Ronald E.
  • Sejrsen, K.
  • Wong, Eric A.
  • Vinson, William E.

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-110498-101824
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/29457

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Weber, Miriam S.. The Role of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I and IGF-binding Proteins in Mammary Gland Development. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/29457