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Essential role for a novel population of binucleated mammary epithelial cells in lactation

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  • Anne C. Rios

    (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
    The University of Melbourne)

  • Nai Yang Fu

    (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
    The University of Melbourne)

  • Paul R. Jamieson

    (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)

  • Bhupinder Pal

    (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
    The University of Melbourne)

  • Lachlan Whitehead

    (Imaging Laboratory, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)

  • Kevin R. Nicholas

    (Monash University)

  • Geoffrey J. Lindeman

    (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
    The Royal Melbourne Hospital
    The University of Melbourne)

  • Jane E. Visvader

    (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
    The University of Melbourne)

Abstract

The mammary gland represents a unique tissue to study organogenesis as it predominantly develops in the post-natal animal and undergoes dramatic morphogenetic changes during puberty and the reproductive cycle. The physiological function of the mammary gland is to produce milk to sustain the newborn. Here we view the lactating gland through three-dimensional confocal imaging of intact tissue. We observed that the majority of secretory alveolar cells are binucleated. These cells first arise in very late pregnancy due to failure of cytokinesis and are larger than mononucleated cells. Augmented expression of Aurora kinase-A and Polo-like kinase-1 at the lactogenic switch likely mediates the formation of binucleated cells. Our findings demonstrate an important physiological role for polyploid mammary epithelial cells in lactation, and based on their presence in five different species, suggest that binucleated cells evolved to maximize milk production and promote the survival of offspring across all mammalian species.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne C. Rios & Nai Yang Fu & Paul R. Jamieson & Bhupinder Pal & Lachlan Whitehead & Kevin R. Nicholas & Geoffrey J. Lindeman & Jane E. Visvader, 2016. "Essential role for a novel population of binucleated mammary epithelial cells in lactation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11400
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11400
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    Cited by:

    1. Rut Molinuevo & Julien Menendez & Kora Cadle & Nabeela Ariqat & Marie Klaire Choy & Cayla Lagousis & Gwen Thomas & Catherine Strietzel & J. W. Bubolz & Lindsay Hinck, 2024. "Physiological DNA damage promotes functional endoreplication of mammary gland alveolar cells during lactation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, December.

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