The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and its nuclear translocator (Arnt) are dispensable for normal mammary gland development but are required for fertility

Fabienne Le Provost, Gregory Riedlinger, Sun Hee Yim, Jamie Benedict, Frank J. Gonzalez, Jodi Flaws, Lothar Hennighausen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and its nuclear translocator (Arnt) are transcription factors that play a role in the detection of and adaptation to environmental signals. AhR-null mice are viable but show impaired lactation. Deletion of the Arnt gene from the mouse genome results in embryonic lethality. To determine the role of Arnt in mammary development and function, we inactivated the Arnt gene in mammary epithelium using Cre-loxP recombination. Inactivation of the Arnt gene during pregnancy did not disrupt alveolar development or the ability of dams to nurse their litters. In contrast, dams in which the Arnt gene had been inactivated during puberty and in ovaries were subfertile, exhibited retarded mammary development, and impaired mammary function. To distinguish defects autonomous to mammary epithelium from indirect effects controlled by ovarian hormones, we transplanted Arnt-null and AhR-null mammary epithelium into wild-type mice and evaluated development after one pregnancy. Normal mammary structures were observed in the absence of Arnt and AhR, demonstrating that neither transcription factor is necessary for mammary development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)231-239
Number of pages9
JournalGenesis
Volume32
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aryl hydrocarbone receptor
  • Cre
  • LoxP
  • Mammary glands
  • Mouse
  • Ovary

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

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