Transgenic mouse model for pituitary disorders associated with LIF overexpression and/or GH underexpression, and its use for testing therapeutic drugs for the conditions
AssigneeCedars-Sinai Medical Center
InventorsShlomo Melmed, Sadanori Akita, Carol Readhead
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Abstract
Recombinant transgenic mice expressing leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in the pituitary. The transgenic mice of the invention are suitable for use as animal models of pituitary disorders, as well as for identifying compounds which stimulate growth hormone production, for the treatment of physiological disorders associated with growth retardation and pituitary developmental retardation disorders, such as chraneopharyngioma, and pituitary cysts, among others.
Claims35
A transgenic mouse, comprising in its germ and pituitary cells nucleic acid comprising a mouse leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)-encoding gene regulated by a rat growth hormone pituitary specific promoter operatively linked thereto:
- wherein with respect to the corresponding wild type mouse,
- the pituitary gland expresses LIF at a level which is at least 1.5 times;
- the circulating levels of growth hormone (GQ) and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are at least 10% lower;
- and the mouse's body weight is lower.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.