Glucose 6-phosphatase activity in pregnant and lactating mammary glands of the mouse.

Glucose 6-phosphatase activity was studied in the secretory epithelial cell and other cell types composing alveoli of the mammary gland (cytochemical study) and in the whole mammary gland (biochemical study) of pregnant and lactating mice. The reaction product for the enzyme activity was seen in the endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear envelope in secretory epithelial cells from all animals examined (days 7 and 14 of pregnancy, and days 0, 3, 10, and 20 of lactation. The amounts of the reaction product appeared scarce at day 7 of pregnancy, moderate at day 14 of pregnancy and day 0 of lactation, and abundant at days 3 and 10 of lactation. The reaction product, however, became generally scarce at day 20 of lactation. Biochemical activity was relatively low at days 7 and 14 of pregnancy and days 0 and 20 of lactation, while it was high at days 3 and 10 of lactation. The increased activity is probably related to functions of secretory epithelial cells in the lactating gland.