title: Liver, renal and subcutaneous histopathology in PEPCK-bGH transgenic pigs.
abstract: Transgenic pigs were created that harboured a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-bovine growth hormone construct (PEPCK-bGH). Four founder animals and two transgenic offspring from one line were evaluated between 6 1/2 and 12 months of age. There was no evidence of severe hepatic or renal lesions in these pigs, which characterised transgenic PEPCK-bGH mice previously described. While glomerular and tubular lesions in kidney sections were not identified in the transgenic pigs, mesangial cell proliferation was observed in two transgenic offspring from a single line. Additionally, glomerular size was significantly increased in four of four puberal transgenic swine when compared to age- and sex-matched controls (28.30 +/- 4.1 vs. 14.2 +/- 2.7 x 10(5) microns 3; representing 3 transgenic lines, p < 0.05). Surprisingly, no mature adipocytes were observed in subcutaneous sections obtained in transgenic GH pigs. Histological evaluation of these transgenic pigs further illustrates the requirement for precise control of growth-related genes and their protein products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294-0019.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pinkert
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Galbreath
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Striker
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000473:pathology; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013006:Growth Hormone; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP)