The mammary glands of prepubertal
estrogen receptor (ER)beta-- mice are morphologically indistinguishable from those of WT littermates. It appears that, although
ERbeta is expressed in the mouse mammary gland, it is not involved in ductal growth of the gland. In this study, we examined the possibility that
ERbeta has a role in the differentiated function of the mammary gland. Pregnancy is rare in
ERbeta-- mice, but an intensive breeding program produced seven pregnant
ERbeta-- mice, of which five did not eat their offspring and continued to successful lactation. Histomorphological comparison of lactating glands revealed that alveoli were larger and there was less secretory epithelium in
ERbeta-- than in WT mice. Ultrastructural analysis showed abundant milk droplets and normal apical villi in the
luminal epithelial cells, but the extracellular matrix and lamina basalis were reduced, and very frequently the interepithelial cell space was increased. Levels of the adhesion molecules,
E-cadherin,
connexin 32,
occludin, and
integrin alpha2 were reduced, and no
zona occludens was detectable. In addition, there was widespread expression of the proliferation marker, Ki-67, in
luminal epithelial cells in
ERbeta-- but not in WT mice. These findings suggest a role for
ERbeta in organization and adhesion of epithelial cells and hence for differentiated tissue morphology. We speculate that, because a reduced risk for
breast cancer is conferred on women who breast-feed at an early age,
ERbeta could contribute to this risk reduction by facilitating terminal differentiation of the mammary gland.