Tissue-specific and expression of porcine growth hormone gene in BAC transgenic mice.
One of the primary goals of traditional livestock breeding is to improve growth rate and optimise body size. Growth rate can be significantly increased by integrating a growth hormone (GH) transgene under the control of a ubiquitous promoter, but while such animals do demonstrate increased growth there are also serious deleterious side-effects to the animals health. Here we report the generation and initial characterization of transgenic mice that carried a porcine BAC encoding the porcine GH gene. We show that GH expression is restricted specifically to the pituitary, is associated with elevated IGF-1 levels, and results in growth enhancement. No negative effects to the health of the transgenic animals were detected. This initial characterisation supports the use of BAC pGH transgene in livestock studies.
State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
Jia
J
Tong
Simon G
SG
Lillico
Ming Jun
MJ
Bi
Tong
T
Qing
Xiao Fang
XF
Liu
Yuanyuan
Y
Wang
Min
M
Zheng
Meili
M
Wang
Yun Ping
YP
Dai
C Bruce A
CB
Whitelaw
Ning
N
Li
D000818:Animals; D022202:Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine / Q000235:genetics*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D013006:Growth Hormone