Socs2 and Elf5 mediate prolactin-induced mammary gland development

Abstract

The proliferative phase of mammary alveolar morphogenesis is initiated during early pregnancy by rising levels of serum prolactin and progesterone, establishing a program of gene expression that is ultimately responsible for the development of the lobuloalveoli and the onset of lactation. To explore this largely unknown genetic program, we constructed transcript profiles derived from transplanted mammary glands formed by recombination of prolactin receptor (Prlr) knockout or wild-type mammary epithelium with wild-type mammary stroma. Comparison with profiles derived from prolactin-treated Scp2 mammary epithelial cells produced a small set of commonly prolactin-regulated genes that included t..