Clonal analysis of morphological phenotype in cultured mammary epithelial cells from human milk

Three main types of colony forming epithelial cell, termed elongated, cuboidal and open, are found in cultures of human milk. Subculture of identified colonies, and cloning from single cells shows that each cell type can maintain its morphological phenotype, but in addition the cuboidal and open cell types can give rise to the elongated type. The results, which suggest a differentiation pathway starting with open cell types, are discussed in relation to differentiation studies on mammary cancer cells.