Effects of treatment with prolactin or progesterone on the coincidence of mammary tumors and uterine adenomyosis in young SHN mice.

The relative incidence of mammary tumors with uterine adenomyosis was examined in SHN mice subjected to hormonal manipulation between 30 and 90 days of age. The incidence of mammary tumors paralleled that of adenomyosis in controls. A single pituitary grafted under the kidney capsule or progesterone pellet implanted at a young age increased the incidence of both mammary and uterine lesions. However, the pattern of long-term response to hormones was different between mammary gland and uterus. The results indicate the possible relevance of this animal model for study of the cause and management of multiple endocrine syndrome in women.