Contents -- Introduction -- 1. Mammary gland, mammogenesis, growth factors, lactogenesis J. Martinet, L. M. Houdebine -- Development of the mammary gland from the embryo stage to the first pregnancy -- Microscopic morphology -- Endocrinology of pregnancy -- Mammogenesis, growth factors and intercellular relationships -- Lactogenesis -- Milking and reproduction -- 2. Placenta and lactation J. Martal, N. Chene -- Introduction -- Isolation, purification, and physiochemical characterization of placental lactogens -- Immunological characteristics and site of synthesis of PL -- Placental lactogens and lactation -- Bovine placental lactogen (bPL) and lactation -- Caprine placental lactogen (cPL) and lactation -- Human placental lactogen and lactation -- Discussion and conclusions -- 3. Hormonal control of cell division and DNA synthesis in the mammary gland L. Zwierzchowski -- Mammary gland cell proliferation and DNA synthesis during pregnancy and lactation -- Experimental induction of mammary gland cell : proliferation and DNA synthesis in vivo and in vitro -- Interrelationship between the mammary gland growth and differentiation -- Possible mechanisms and effectors involved in the mitogenic action of hormones on mammary gland cells -- Summary and conclusions -- 4. Multi-faceted regulation of cell differentiation by extracellular matrix Claudia Q. Lin, Mina J. Bissell -- Introduction -- The mammary gland -- ECM regulation of hepatocyte function -- Regulation of keratinocyte function by ECM -- Conclusion -- 5. Oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and mammary tumors P. Hainaut, P. Berthon, M. Crepin -- Introduction -- Risk factors for breast cancer in women -- Molecular lesions in the progression of cancer -- Mammary tumors in experimental animals -- Genetic changes associated with human breast cancer.

Interrelations between hormones, growth factors and the products of cancer genes -- Concluding remarks : multiple steps involved in breast cancer progression -- 6. Multifactorial regulation of prolactin secretion from lactotroph cells : transduction mechanisms A. Enjalbert -- Multifactorial regulation -- Transduction mechanisms in lactotroph cells -- Multiple coupling mechanisms of membrane receptors -- 7. Prolactin-secreting adenomas and functional hyperprolactinemia F. Peillon -- Prolactinomas -- Functional hyperprolactinemia -- Pathophysiology -- 8. Structure, function and expression of prolactin receptors in mammals Marc Edery, Paul A. Kelly -- Structure of prolactin receptor -- Prolactin receptor expression in the mammary gland -- Signal transduction pathways -- Knock-out mice -- 9. Physiology and biochemistry of lactogenesis : stimulation by antiprogesterones Ricardo P. Deis, Antoine Perier, Graciela A. Jahn -- Lactogenesis and parturition -- Hormonal control of lactogenesis -- Studies in tissue culture systems -- Effect of the antiprogesterone and antiglucocorticoid steroid, RU 486 on lactogenesis in vivo and in vitro -- Conclusions -- 10. Artificial induction of lactation H. H. Head -- Introduction -- Hormonal stimulation of mammary growth and function oestrogen and progesterone treatment -- Secondary treatments -- Response to treatments -- Hormone concentrations prepartum and during induced lactation -- Role of hormones -- Composition of mammary secretions and milk -- Behavioral, physical and reproductive changes -- Conclusions and perspectives -- 11. Somatotropin (Growth Hormone) : effects on lactogenesis and milk production K.C. Bachman, F. Elvinger, H.H. Head -- Introduction -- Milk yield response -- Milk response and nutrition management -- Actions of somatotropin -- Effects on blood flow, substrate supply and metabolism.

Effects of somatotropin on animal health and reproduction -- Somatotropin, mammary growth and milk yields -- Somatotropin and sélection for milk yield -- Concluding perspectives -- 12 The physiology of milk ejection : consequences on milking techniques J. Labussière -- Introduction -- Neuroendocrine control of milk ejection -- Milking and milk ejection in ruminants -- 13. The psychological aspects of breast feeding in women M. Brossard-Le Grand -- 14. Lactation and physiological control of maternal behavior in mammals P. Poindron -- Introduction -- The Parental cycle and its relationships with lactation -- Physiological factors controlling maternal behavior -- Influence of mother-young interactions on maternal physiology and lactation -- Conclusions -- 15. The molecular genetics of milk proteins and their genes J.C. Mercier, F. Grosclaude -- Introduction -- Structure of messenger RNA and genes -- Polymorphism -- Genetic relationships between loci, and chromosomal assignement -- Conclusion : the value of studying polymorphism from the academic and applied points of view -- 16. The regulation of milk protein synthesis L.M. Houdebine -- Introduction -- Variations of milk protein synthesis during the development of the mammary gland -- Experimental induction of casein synthesis in vivo -- Control of milk protein synthesis in vitro -- The role of the different hormones on the expression of Milk Protein Genes -- The control of milk protein gene expression by extracellular matrix -- The three basic elements involved in milk protein gene transcription -- The expression of milk protein genes in transgenic animals -- The transduction of the prolactin message to milk protein genes -- Conclusions -- 17. Hormonal control of casein secretion M. Ollivier-Bousquet -- Introduction -- Hormonal influence on milk production during lactation.

In vitro methods of investigating milk protein secretion -- In vitro study of some hormonal effects on milk protein secretion -- Conclusions and perspectives -- 18. Immune factors of mammary secretions P. Berthon, G. Tanneau, H. Salmon -- Introduction -- Transfer of systemic humoral immunity -- Local immune system -- Transfer of secretory humoral immunity -- Transfer of cellular immunity -- Conclusions -- 19. Immune protection of the mammary gland P. Rainard, B. Poutrel -- Characteristics of udder infections -- The defense system of the udder -- Immune response of the mammary gland -- Prospects for increasing mammary gland defenses -- 20. Metabolic adaptations and nutrient partitioning in the lactating animal Y. Chilliard -- Galactopoiesis, teleophoresis and homeostasis -- Metabolic adaptations during lactation -- Endocrine regulation -- Conclusions -- 21. The lactogenic action of plant extracts L. Sawadogo, J-F. Thibault, X. Rouau, J. Gueguen, S. Berot, M. Ollivier-Bousquet, H. Sepehri, L-M. Houdebine -- Introduction -- Establishing criteria to describe lactogenic effects -- The lactogenic effects of some plant extracts from Africa -- Action of plant extracts on secretion of lactogenic hormones -- Lactogenic effects of beer and its components -- The identification of lactogenic compounds in by-products of protein prepared from cotton seed -- The identification of the chemical nature of lactogenic agents -- The mechanism of action of lactogenic agents -- Conclusions -- 22. Milk proteins : structure and biological functions B. Ribadeau-Dumas -- Localization of proteins in fresh milk -- Biosynthesis sites of milk proteins -- Structure of milk proteins -- Biological functions of milk proteins -- Conclusions -- 23. Do infants really need human milk? V. Barrois-Larouze, R. Ducluzeau, P. Raibaud -- Milk and nutrition of the infant.

Milk and microbial ecology of the infant digestive tract -- Conclusions -- 24. Lactic acid bacteria starters and other starter cultures : present and future use D. Hemme, M. Desmazeaud -- Introduction -- A role of primary importance : lactic acid bacteria acidification -- Dairy product microorganisms with a role other than acid production -- Conclusions -- 25. Dietary residues in human and animal milk G. Bories -- Introduction -- Mechanisms of xenobiotic excretion in milk -- Variability of excretion of xenobiotics in milk according to species and physiological status -- The present situation regarding dietary residues in milk -- Conclusions -- Index.