Got Milk? Identifying and Characterizing Lactation Defects in Genetically-Engineered Mouse Models

The ability to produce and expel milk is important for the health and survival of all mammals. Nevertheless, our understanding of the molecular events underlying the execution of this process remains incomplete. Whilst impaired mammary gland development and lactational competence remains the subject...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of mammary gland biology and neoplasia Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 255 - 272
Main Authors Stewart, Teneale A., Davis, Felicity M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.12.2020
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Animal models
Breastfeeding & lactation
Cancer Research
Immunohistochemistry
Lactation
Lysates
Mammary gland
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Milk production
Oncology
Phenotypes
Standardization
Development
Genetically-engineered mouse model
Mammary gland
Lactation
Secretion
Mammalian reproduction
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Summary:The ability to produce and expel milk is important for the health and survival of all mammals. Nevertheless, our understanding of the molecular events underlying the execution of this process remains incomplete. Whilst impaired mammary gland development and lactational competence remains the subject of focused investigations, defects in these events may also be an unintended consequence of genetic manipulation in rodent models. In this technical report, we outline established and emerging methods to characterize lactation phenotypes in genetically-engineered mouse models. We discuss important considerations of common models, optimized conditions for mating and the importance of litter size and standardization. Methods for quantifying milk production and quality, as well as protocols for wholemount preparation, immunohistochemistry and the preparation of RNA and protein lysates are provided. This review is intended to help guide researchers new to the field of mammary gland biology in the systematic analysis of lactation defects and in the preparation of samples for more focused mechanistic investigations.
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ISSN:1083-3021
1573-7039
1573-7039
DOI:10.1007/s10911-020-09467-y