Genetic manipulation of the rabbit heart via transgenesis.
BACKGROUND
Transgenesis using cardiac-specific expression has been valuable in exploring cardiac structure-function relationships. To date, cardiac-selective studies have been confined to the mouse. However, the utility of the mouse is limited in certain, possibly critical, aspects with respect to cardiovascular function.


RESULTS
To establish the potential validity of transgenic methodology for remodeling a larger mammalian heart, we explored cardiac-selective expression in transgenic rabbits. The murine alpha- and beta-cardiac myosin heavy chain gene promoters were used to express a reporter gene, and transgene expression was quantified in cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscles as well as in nonmuscle tissues. Although neither promoter exactly mimics endogenous patterns of myosin heavy chain expression, both are able to drive high levels of transgene expression in the cardiac compartment. Neither promoter is active in smooth muscle or nonmuscle tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
Directed organ-specific expression is feasible in a larger animal with existing reagents, and cardiac-selective transgenic manipulation is possible in the rabbit.
James
J
J
Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Sanbe
A
A
Yager
K
K
Martin
L
L
Klevitsky
R
R
Robbins
J
J
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000502:physiology; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits / Q000502:physiology*; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains