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Oxytocin Induces Mammary Epithelium Disruption and Could Stimulate Epithelial Cell Exfoliation

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Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mammary epithelial cells (MEC) are exfoliated from the epithelium into milk, influencing the number of MEC present in the udder. This process is associated with epithelium integrity. The release of oxytocin (OT) induced by milking causes myoepithelial cell contraction, which, in turn, may stimulate MEC exfoliation through mechanical forces. To investigate the role of OT in MEC exfoliation, we inhibited or induced myoepithelial cell contraction by injecting the OT receptor antagonist atosiban (Ato) or a supraphysiological dose of OT, respectively. Eight cows were assigned to 2 treatments during 2 milkings according to a crossover experimental design: Control+OT (cows were first milked to collect standard milk and then received 5 IU of OT to collect residual milk through a second milking) and Ato + OT (cows were injected with Ato (50 μg/kg of body weight) and milked to collect cisternal milk, then received 5 IU of OT to collect alveolar milk through a second milking). Milk MEC were purified to determine their concentration and number in milk. Mammary epithelium integrity was assessed by measuring the kinetics of plasma lactose concentration. Inhibiting myoepithelial cell contraction by Ato injection decreased the number of exfoliated MEC in milk. In contrast, OT injection increased the concentration of MEC in the residual milk and the number of MEC in the alveolar milk. Ato injection reduced plasma lactose concentration, whereas, in both treatments, OT injections increased it. Our results suggested that myoepithelial cell contraction caused by OT could stimulate MEC exfoliation into milk and was associated with epithelium disruption.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to Jacques Lassalas, Philippe Lamberton, Daniel Chevrel, André Cozien, Jean-Luc Harel, Pierre-Yves Pennober, Jean-Yves Thébault, and Maryvonne Texier from the Physiology team of the INRA experimental farm of Méjusseaume (UMR PEGASE, Le Rheu, France) for their helpful assistance in taking care of the cows and in sampling. The authors also thank Nicole Huchet, Morgane Kerboas, Maryline Lemarchand, Colette Mustière, Sabrina Philau, Jacques Portanguen and Sandra Wiart (INRA UMR PEGASE, St-Gilles, France) for their help in analyzing samples. Finally, the authors wish to thank Rupert Bruckmaier (Vetsuisse Faculty, Bern, Switzerland), who kindly provided atosiban, and Pierre-Guy Marnet (Agrocampus Ouest, Rennes, France) for providing the antibody and the label for OT assays. This study was conducted with the financial support of the GALA association and INRA through the RUMINFLAME project funded by GISA metaprogram 2012. Lucile Herve was supported by a PhD scholarship funded by Région Bretagne and Agrocampus-Ouest (Rennes, France).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PEGASE, Agrocampus Ouest, INRA, 35590, Saint-Gilles, France

    L. Herve, V. Lollivier, H. Quesnel & Marion Boutinaud

  2. Université Bretagne Loire, 35044, Rennes, France

    V. Lollivier

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  1. L. Herve
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  2. V. Lollivier
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  3. H. Quesnel
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  4. Marion Boutinaud
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Contributions

MB, VL and HQ conceived the experimental design; LH, MB and VL executed the study; LH performed the statistical analysis; LH, VL, HQ and MB contributed to interpretations; LH wrote the manuscript and MB, HQ and VL revised the manuscript. All authors read, edited and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Marion Boutinaud.

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Herve, L., Lollivier, V., Quesnel, H. et al. Oxytocin Induces Mammary Epithelium Disruption and Could Stimulate Epithelial Cell Exfoliation. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 23, 139–147 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-018-9400-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-018-9400-8

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