The mammalian embryo cannot develop without the placenta. Its specialized cells
(trophoblast, endoderm, and extraembryonic mesoderm) form early in development. They …

Hemochorial placentation is orchestrated through highly regulated temporal and spatial
decisions governing the fate of trophoblast stem/progenitor cells. Trophoblast cell …

Mouse ovarian surface epithelial cells (MOSEC) were obtained from virgin, mature mice by
mild trypsinization and were repeatedly passaged in vitro. Early passage cells (< 20 …

An understanding of the events that occur during GH receptor (GHR) signaling has
facilitated the development of a GHR antagonist (pegvisomant) for use in humans. This …

The prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) gene families represent species-specific
expansions of pregnancy-associated hormones/cytokines. In this review we examine the …

I. Introduction PRL PL, and GH are homologous proteins that are thought to have arisen from
a common ancestral gene by two successive tandem duplications (Refs. 1–5; for review, see …

Clinical observations of the function of the pituitary gland are credited to Pierre Marie, who,
in 1886, noted the large size of the gland in an acromegalic patient. In the early 1900s, the …

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in women. Approximately two-
thirds of all breast cancers diagnosed are classified as hormone dependent, which indicates …

Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone involved in many biological functions. In some species, there is
a family of PRL-related genes; such is the case in the mouse and rat. The actions of …

The placenta provides highly specialized functions during gestation that are critical for the
normal development of the embryo/fetus. Acquisition of these important responsibilities …