title: Transgenic modifications of the rat genome.
abstract: The laboratory rat (R. norvegicus) is a very important experimental animal in several fields of biomedical research. This review describes the various techniques that have been used to generate transgenic rats: classical DNA microinjection and more recently described techniques such as lentiviral vector-mediated DNA transfer into early embryos, sperm-mediated transgenesis, embryo cloning by nuclear transfer and germline mutagenesis. It will also cover techniques associated to transgenesis such as sperm cryopreservation, embryo freezing and determination of zygosity. The availability of several technologies allowing genetic manipulation in the rat coupled to genomic data will allow biomedical research to fully benefit from the rat as an experimental animal.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Transplantation et de Recherche en Transplantation (ITERT), F-44093, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tesson
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cozzi
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ménoret
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rémy
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Usal
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fraichard
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anegon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D019976:Cloning, Organism; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D018390:Gene Targeting; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D016678:Genome; D016086:Lentivirus / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004274:DNA, Recombinant