Open AccessSome endocrine traits of transgenic rabbits. I. Changes in plasma and milk hormones
Author(s) -
Sirotkin Av,
Peter Chrenek,
J. Rafay,
Radoslav Omelka,
Helga Vetr,
Rastislav Jurčík,
Binder Br
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
physiological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.647
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1802-9973
pISSN - 0862-8408
DOI - 10.33549/physiolres.931149
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , biology , endocrine system , transgenesis , testosterone (patch) , litter , transgene , hormone , lactation , reproductive technology , gene , pregnancy , biochemistry , genetics , agronomy
The aim of these studies was to compare some endocrine andnon-endocrine characteristics of transgenic (carrying mammarygland-specific mWAP-hFVIII gene construct) and non-transgenicrabbits. The concentrations of corticosterone, progesterone,testosterone, estradiol, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) andhuman factor VIII (hFVIII) in the blood plasma of adult females(9 months of age, 3rd generation transgenic animals), adultmales, and young females (1-2 months of age, 4th generation oftransgenic animals), as well as in the milk of lactating adultfemales, were analyzed by using RIA. In addition, litter size andbody mass of pups born by transgenic and non-transgenicfemales from the 3rd generation were compared. Transgenicanimals were compared with their non-transgenic siblings (thesame genetic and epigenetic background). Transgenesis did notinfluence plasma hFVIII, but significantly increasedcorticosterone (in all animals), reduced IGF-I (in adult males andfemales), testosterone and estradiol, (in young females) andaltered progesterone (increase in adult males and decrease inadult females) concentrations in blood plasma. In addition,transgenic females had higher milk concentrations oftestosterone, but not progesterone or IGF-I than their nontransgenic sisters. These endocrine changes were not associatedwith changes in litter size. Transgenic male (but not female) pupshave smaller body mass than control animals. These observationsdemonstrate the influence of transgenesis per se on the animalgrowth and endocrine system (secretion of reproductive andstress steroid hormones as well as growth factors) over fourgenerations.