An Ex vivo Model to Study Hormone Action in the Human Breast

The overall goal of this procedure is to provide an ex vivo model of the human breast that maintains tissue architecture, intercellular interactions, and hormone responsiveness to study hormone action. The model is based on human tissue microstructures that are prepared by first dissecting breast parenchyma, which consists of ducts and lobules from the fatty mammary stroma. In addition to adipocytes, the stroma contains fibroblasts immune cells and endothelial cells.

Once the parenchymal tissue has been freed of the fat, it is mechanically dissociated into pinhead sized pieces using opposing scalpels. Subsequently, the tissue mass is subjected to enzymatic digestion with collagenase hormone stimulation can be associated with this step if desired. The tissue microstructures are then recovered by centrifugation, followed by removal of the remaining fat tissue fibroblast enriched fraction and red blood cells.