The Morphology of Hormone Induced Structural Changes in the Female Breast

Many morphological, physiological, and biochemical investigations have contributed to the classification of the endocrine regulatory mechanisms responsible for development and function of the mammary gland. These studies received their crucial impetus when the synthesis of the sex hormones had been achieved and from their experimental use. The history of the use of these drugs is thus also the history of the concept of control of the mammary gland by hormones. The individual factors and combinations of factors responsible for the normal growth of the glandular structure of the mammary gland, for its secretory function, and for its pathomorphology have been elucidated by systematic studies. …