Apoptosis in involution of mammary gland

Authors

  • Fátima F. Caldoncelli Trabalho realizado nos laboratórios de imunopatologia e Patologia Experimental de Toxicologia Reprodutiva e de Embriologia e Biologia dos Tecidos, Centro de Biologia da Reprodução, Universidade Federal de juiz de Fora.
  • Rogério E. Farias Trabalho realizado nos laboratórios de imunopatologia e Patologia Experimental de Toxicologia Reprodutiva e de Embriologia e Biologia dos Tecidos, Centro de Biologia da Reprodução, Universidade Federal de juiz de Fora.
  • Martha de oliveira Guerra Trabalho realizado nos laboratórios de imunopatologia e Patologia Experimental de Toxicologia Reprodutiva e de Embriologia e Biologia dos Tecidos, Centro de Biologia da Reprodução, Universidade Federal de juiz de Fora.
  • vera Maria Peters Trabalho realizado nos laboratórios de imunopatologia e Patologia Experimental de Toxicologia Reprodutiva e de Embriologia e Biologia dos Tecidos, Centro de Biologia da Reprodução, Universidade Federal de juiz de Fora.
  • Fernando Monteiro Aarestrup Trabalho realizado nos laboratórios de imunopatologia e Patologia Experimental de Toxicologia Reprodutiva e de Embriologia e Biologia dos Tecidos, Centro de Biologia da Reprodução, Universidade Federal de juiz de Fora.

Keywords:

Apoptosis, Breast, Physiology

Abstract

On preparing for lactation the mammary gland undergoes some structura/ and functional
modifications. After nursing, miik stasis and hormone drop (steroid hormones, progesterone,
pro/actin) make the breast iean back to the stage before gestation. This mammary involution
inciudes the recast of extraceiiuiar matrix (ECM) and ceii ioss. The recast of ECM depends on
the action ofiocaiiy produced proteiytic enzimes. The degeneration of ECM changes the interaction
of the gland epithelium and extraceiiuiar adjacent matrix and acts on the gland involution
mechanism. The decrease ofcell numberoccurs bymeans of apoptosis, thatis a programmed
cell death phenomenon dependent on /ntraceiiular factors and the interaction ofce/i/exterior environment. Severa/ cell survivai reguiating genes Hke famiiy gens bci 2 andp53 gene
take part on this process. We can watch ceils in apoptosis by means ofthe Túnel method, that
identifies the DNA fragmentation of gland ceils. In this Uterature review we try to understand
the complex mechanism of apoptosis in the involution ofthe mammary giand.

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Published

2026-07-29

How to Cite

Caldoncelli, F. F., Farias, R. E., Guerra, M. de oliveira, Peters, vera M., & Aarestrup, F. M. (2026). Apoptosis in involution of mammary gland. Revista Brasileira De Mastologia, 12(4). Retrieved from https://mastology.org/rbm/article/view/2084

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 4 (2002)

Section

Reciew Article

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Copyright (c) 2026 Fátima F. Caldoncelli, Rogério E. Farias, Martha de oliveira Guerra, vera Maria Peters, Fernando Monteiro Aarestrup

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