The transgenic rat TGR(mRen2)27 is a new monogenetic model in hypertension research that develops fulminant hypertension after the mouse Ren-2d renin gene has been integrated into its genome. To evaluate the molecular mechanism of development of hypertension in this animal model, we measured cytosolic free sodium concentration in intact lymphocytes from seven transgenic rats and eight age-match...

Animal models that represent human diseases constitute an important tool in understanding the pathogenesis of the diseases, and in developing effective therapies. Neurodegenerative diseases are complex disorders involving neuropathologic and psychiatric alterations. Although transgenic and knock-in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD)...

BACKGROUND The causative role of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in prostate cancer progression has been well established at molecular level. However, whether and how IL-6 may play a role in prostate cancer risk and development is not well defined. One limitation factor to acquiring this knowledge is the lack of appropriate animal models. METHODS We generated a novel line of prostate-speci...

Humane use of preclinical large animal cancer models plays a critical role in understanding cancer biology and developing therapeutic treatments. Among the large animal candidates, goats have great potentials as sustainable sources for large animal cancer model development. Goats are easier to handle and cheaper to raise. The genome of the goats has been sequenced recently. It has been known th...

The rat is an important animal model in biomedical research, but gene targeting technology is not established for this species. Therefore, we aimed to produce transgenic knockdown rats using shRNA technology and pronuclear microinjection. To this purpose, we employed a tetracycline-inducible shRNA expression system targeting the insulin receptor (IR). Doxycycline (DOX) treatment of the resultin...

Biotechnology applied to livestock encompasses various reproductive techniques supported by molecular biology. Technologies for the transfer of gene constructs involve microinjection into the pronucleus of fertilized oocytes or DNA mass transfer. The last one can be made through the use of sperm, which carry the incorporated gene construct into the ovum at fertilization, or through the use of r...