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The mouse mammary gland in serum-free whole organ culture can be manipulated hormonally to undergo one complete physiological cycle consisting of lobuloalveolar development, functional differentiation and regression, mimicking processes that occur in vivo. A second cycle has not previously been achieved in vitro. The present study has identified a specific requirement for epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the morphological development of mammary lobuloalveoli, allowing two complete cycles of development and regression in culture.

The feline T-cell lymphotropic lentivirus (feline immunodeficiency virus) is a recently described felinespecific retrovirus that can produce chronic immunodeficiency-like disorders in cats. A microdilution plate format enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay has been developed to detect the presence of antibody to the virus in feline serum or plasma. Temporal studies performed with experimentally infected animals show that seroconversion can be demonstrated 3 to 4 weeks after exposure to the virus. Results of a serosurvey (n = 1,556 samples) indicate that infection is fairly common in both clinic (5.2%) and sick cat (15.2%) populations. Western blot (immunoblot) and sodium dodecyl sulfate radioimmunoprecipitation assays were developed to confirm microdilution plate test results and to identify peptides specific for the feline immunodeficiency virus. All microdilution plate test positive results and selected negative results were confirmed by one or both of these procedures. These data demonstrate that this microassay plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is a very sensitive and specific test for detection of antibody to the feline immunodeficiency virus. * Corresponding author. animals but are characterized by a chronic and persistent nature.

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