The androgen-signaling pathway, mediated through the androgen receptor (AR), is critical in prostate tumorigenesis. However, the precise role of AR in prostate cancer development and progression still remains largely unknown. Specifically, it is unclear whether overexpression of AR is sufficient to induce prostate tumor formation in vivo. Here, we inserted the human AR transgene with a LoxP-sto...

We previously found that the K141N mutation in heat shock protein B8 (HSPB8) was responsible for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2L in a large Chinese family. The objective of the present study was to generate a transgenic mouse model bearing the K141N mutation in the human HSPB8 gene, and to determine whether this (K141N)HSPB8 transgenic mouse model would manifest the clinical phenotype of Ch...

Transgenic mice over-expressing mutant human amyloid precursor protein (PDAPP mouse) develop several Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-like lesions including an age-related accumulation of amyloid-?-containing neuritic plaques. Although aged, heterozygous PDAPP mice also exhibit synaptic and glial cell changes, that is characteristic of AD pathology, no evidence of neurodegeneration has been observed. T...

Hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are critical for controlling homeostatic functions in mammals. We used a transgenic mouse model in which the POMC neurons were labeled with enhanced-green fluorescent protein (EGFP) to perform visualized, whole-cell patch recordings from pre-pubertal female hypothalamic slices. The mouse POMC-EGFP neurons expressed the same endogenous conductance ...

We developed a transgenic mouse line that expresses the Gi-coupled RASSL (receptor activated solely by synthetic ligand) Ro1 in astrocytes to study astrocyte–neuronal communication. Surprisingly, we found that all transgenics expressing Ro1 developed hydrocephalus. We analyzed these mice in an effort to develop a new model of hydrocephalus that will further our understanding of the pathophysiol...

Hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are critical for controlling homeostatic functions in mammals. We used a transgenic mouse model in which the POMC neurons were labeled with enhanced-green fluorescent protein (EGFP) to perform visualized, whole-cell patch recordings from pre-pubertal female hypothalamic slices. The mouse POMC-EGFP neurons expressed the same endogenous conductance ...

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the major etiological factors responsible for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We used a transgenic mouse, containing HBV sequences, as a model system to unravel the molecular mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis induced by HBV. We chose this animal model because it consistently develops liver cancer after intermediate steps that mimic the natur...

Transgenic mice carrying heterologous genes directed by a 670-bp segment of the regulatory sequence from the human transferrin (TF) gene demonstrated high expression in brain. Mice carrying the chimeric 0.67kbTF-CAT gene expressed TF-CAT in neurons and glial cells of the nucleus basalis, the cerebrum, corpus callosum, cerebellum, and hippocampus. In brains from two independent TF-CAT transgenic...

Studies suggest that biological sex influences susceptibility to kidney diseases with males demonstrating greater risk for developing ischemic acute injury (AKI). Sex-related differences in mitochondrial function and homeostasis exist, likely contributing sexual dimorphism injury, but the mechanisms are not well characterized. Our observations reveal lower baseline expression of Sirtuin-3 (Sirt...

Shh (Sonic Hedgehog) is a morphogen involved in gastric fundic gland differentiation in the adult. Shh expression is reduced in Helicobacter pylori-associated intestinal metaplastic change of the gastric epithelium and mice that lack Shh show intestinal transformation of the gastric mucosa. Similarly, in the stomach of Cdx2 (caudal-type homeobox 2)-transgenic mice, the gastric mucosa is replace...