构建骨骼肌特异表达人FS基因载体及其稳定转染绵羊胎儿成纤维细胞

旨在构建骨骼肌特异表达人卵泡抑制素( follistatin,Fs)基因载体并得到其稳定转染的蒙古绵羊胎儿成纤维细胞系,为后期通过体细胞核移植方法制作转FS基因克隆绵羊奠定基础.首先通过RT-PCR方法克隆得到人FS基因cDNA序列,然后与猪骨骼肌特异表达启动子α-actin以及红色荧光蛋白表达元件连接,构建成FS基因骨骼肌特异表达载体pCFCDS.脂质体介导外源表达载体转染绵羊胎儿成纤维细胞,经G418筛选后得到稳定转染的绵羊转基因细胞克隆.PCR鉴定外源基因在细胞基因组中的整合,分析转基因细胞系的核型和生长状况.结果显示,成功构建得到绵羊骨骼肌特异表达人FS基因的真核表达载体,并得到其稳定转染的转基因绵羊胎儿成纤维细胞系,为后期通过体细胞核移植方法制作转FS基因克隆绵羊奠定基础.     

甲基转移酶METTL21C影响鸡骨骼肌细胞成肌的发育

本研究旨在探究甲基转移酶METTL21C在家禽骨骼肌发育分化过程中的作用。采用实时荧光定量PCR (quantitative Real-time PCR, qPCR)检测METTL21C基因在鸡不同组织中的表达情况,绘制其组织表达谱;选取3个时间点,检测其在骨骼肌组织中的表达情况。通过酶消化法从鸡骨骼肌组织中分离得到原代细胞;将METTL21C超表达载体转染至原代鸡骨骼肌细胞,通过qPCR和Western blotting检测Pax7、MyoD、Myf5、MyoG等基因的表达水平。结果显示,METTL21C在心肌和骨骼肌组织中的表达量显著高于其他组织,在胚胎期和幼龄期骨骼肌中的表达呈上升趋势;超表达METTL21C后,成肌相关基因Pax7、MyoD、Myf5、MyoG的表达量显著升高。本研究初步发现甲基转移酶METTL21C具有促进家禽骨骼肌发育分化的作用,为骨骼肌发育的分子机理的研究及相关医学研究提供数据支持。     

拟南芥GH3.9基因的过表达及其表型分析

为研究GH3.9基因在植物生长发育过程中的作用,利用RT-PCR成功克隆到GH3.9基因,该基因全长为1 750bp。通过构建pEGAD-GH3.9过表达载体转化拟南芥,获得过表达GH3.9基因纯系转基因株系GH3.9ox-3和GH3.9ox-7。对拟南芥野生型(WT)和转基因株系(GH3.9ox-3和GH3.9ox-7)幼苗用不同光强和光质进行处理,结果显示:在蓝光、红光、远红光等不同光照强度下培养,过表达株系幼苗下胚轴的生长均明显受到抑制,且较野生型明显;采用不同光周期处理拟南芥幼苗,过表达幼苗下胚轴的伸长明显低于野生型;对成年植株表型进行观察,发现过表达株系植株矮小、雄蕊变短、果荚短小。研究表明:GH3.9基因参与了拟南芥生长发育调控,过表达GH3.9基因对拟南芥生长有抑制作用。     

EGCG通过抑制wnt/β-catenin信号通路调节猪骨骼肌卫星细胞的增殖和分化

为了阐明Wnt/β-catenin信号通路在猪骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖分化中的作用,利用Wnt/β-catenin信号通路抑制剂(-)-表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)处理猪骨骼肌卫星细胞,采用MTT、流式细胞术、免疫荧光和Western印迹等方法检测了细胞增殖和分化情况.结果显示,与对照组相比,EGCG以时间、浓度依赖方式抑制猪骨骼肌卫星细胞的增殖.流式细胞术检测细胞周期结果表明,与对照组相比,经EGCG处理后,猪骨骼肌卫星细胞的G1期细胞比例上升,而G2和S期细胞比例下降,这说明细胞被阻滞在G1期,细胞的增殖受到抑制.免疫荧光检测分化过程中MyHC的表达,与对照组相比,EGCG促进猪骨骼肌卫星细胞的分化,并降低增殖标志基因MyoD以及细胞周期蛋白D的表达量,而提高了分化标志基因MyoG和MyHC的表达量.在猪骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖分化过程中,EGCG降低β-联蛋白的表达量,且核内的β-联蛋白明显减少.结果表明,EGCG通过抑制Wnt/β-catenin信号通路抑制猪骨骼肌卫星细胞的增殖,促进其分化.     

人生长激素慢病毒载体的构建及其在鼠骨骼肌成肌细胞中的表达

构建能表达人生长激素(hGH)的pLentivirus6/V5-hGH载体,并实现hGH基因在骨骼肌成肌细胞中大量、长期和稳定的表达。体外培养SD鼠骨骼肌成肌细胞,并通过免疫组织化学方法鉴定所得细胞、用台酚兰染色确定培养细胞的活性并绘制生长曲线。将目的基因hGH亚克隆到真核细胞表达载体pLenti6/V5-D-TOPO载体上,构建重组质粒pLentivirus6/V5-hGH。将pLenti6/V5-hGH及阳性对照质粒pLenti6/V5-EGFP分别用Lipofectamin2000介导转染体外培养的SD乳鼠骨骼肌成肌细胞。在激光共聚焦扫描显微镜下计数,确定阳性对照质粒的转染数,从而估计该基因的转染效率。加入筛选试剂以获得稳定表达异源生长激素(GH)的成肌细胞。收集转染及筛选后的细胞培养基,用放射免疫分析法(RIA)检测重组人生长激素(rhGH)的表达水平。聚合酶链式反应法(PCR)及DNA测序显示hGH基因成功地插入到pLenti6/V5-D-TOPO载体中;阳性对照质粒转染细胞24h后,在激光共聚焦显微镜下观察,其转染效率达40%以上。检测收集的上清,与对照组相比,有极显著差异(P<0.01),观察至第8周,rhGH仍持续稳定表达。通过检测培养的chang-liver肝细胞上清中胰岛素样生长因子-1(IGF-1)的水平,验证了rhGH的生物学活性。实验通过培养高纯度的成肌细胞,构建了能在真核细胞内表达hGH的重组质粒pLenti6/V5-hGH,实现了hGH基因在骨骼肌成肌细胞中大量、长期和稳定的表达,并且获得的rhGH具有较强的促进肝细胞分泌IGF-1的能力。     

阳离子脂质体转染人类骨骼肌原代细胞的初步研究

探讨不同脂质体介导基因转染人类骨骼肌原代细胞的转染效率和基因的表达.将含有β-半乳糖苷酶LacZ结构基因的质粒,用三种不同的阳离子脂质体导入人类骨骼肌原代细胞中,通过X-Gal染色观察不同的转染效率.结果发现,Fugene 6转染效率最高,蓝染细胞达10%,其脂质体与DNA的最佳比例为3∶ 2.Fugene 6可有效地将外源基因导入骨骼肌原代细胞,而且外源基因可以长效高效地表达,有望用来作为基因治疗的载体.     

Bcl-2/C-Raf双基因“敲低”抑制人结肠癌细胞增殖

 RNA干扰是一种具有序列特异性的基因沉默,能够触发具有相应序列的mRNA的降解.构建具有双靶点的RNAi质粒表达载体,与单靶点表达载体比较,探讨其对结肠癌细胞增殖的抑 制作用.本研究分别构建了针对Bcl-2、C-Raf 和Bcl-2/C-Raf靶基因的质粒表达载体,通过Lipofectamine TM2000介导转染人结肠癌细胞系HCT-8后,检测相应转染组靶基因的mRNA和蛋白质表达量,测定各组细胞活性,研究RNAi对各组癌细胞增殖的抑制率.结果表明,分别转染3种质粒表达载体后,3组结肠癌细胞中相应靶基因的mRNA和蛋白质表达量均降低;转染双靶点干扰质粒的试验组;其细胞活性低于单靶点组;对于针对Bcl-2, C-Raf和Bcl-2/C-Raf基因的3组干扰实验,RNAi对结肠癌细胞增殖的抑制率分别为43.87%,40.64% 和63.85%.RNAi是结肠癌细胞中的一种功能途径,以质粒作为表达载体,同时具备Bcl-2/C-Raf双靶点的表达载体,对结肠癌细胞增殖的抑制作用要明显优于单靶点表达载体,双靶点质粒表达载体在结肠癌的基因治疗中是有潜力的.     

Myostatin通过Smad3下调MyoD的表达来抑制骨骼肌卫星细胞的分化

Myostatin基因,是肌肉生长的负调控因子,通过下调MyoD的表达抑制骨骼肌细胞的分化,但具体机制目前尚未完全清楚。本研究以体外培养的猪骨骼肌卫星细胞为实验材料,利用RNAi 技术,以Smad3为靶基因进行干扰研究,研究干扰前后猪骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖情况的变化以及MyoD、Myostatin基因的表达规律,进一步阐述三个基因间的调控关系。结果表明,Myostatin通过下调MyoD的表达,抑制骨骼肌卫星细胞的分化,但这种抑制作用是受Smad3调节的。     

响应重力负荷变化的抗肌萎缩表达载体构建

目的:为了验证‘肌肉生长抑制素’启动子(PM)对去负荷(失重)的响应能力,观察PM调控下的抗萎缩蛋白(mM)表达载体在肌细胞去负荷时的表达水平及抗萎缩活性.方法:首先,构建了PM调控下的荧光素酶表达载体(pGL3-PM-Luc),检测模拟失重下荧光素酶基因在肌细胞中的表达水平,验证PM对重力负荷变化的响应.随后,构建了PM调控下的mM表达载体‘pGL3-PM-mM’,观察模拟失重下mM在肌细胞中的表达及其对肌细胞增殖的影响.结果:模拟失重下,‘pGL3-PM-Luc’转染的肌细胞荧光素酶表达提高了29％,‘pGL3-PM-mM’载体转染的肌细胞,mM表达上调了2.6倍,细胞增殖活性提高了24％.结论:PM在失重条件下可开启下游基因的表达,依此特点构建的mM表达载体,其mM的表达能随负荷减少而增加,且可促进肌细胞的增殖活性.     

ω-6脂肪酸脱氢酶基因在乳腺癌细胞内的表达和作用

为探讨ω- 6脂肪酸脱氢酶基因fat -1在人类乳腺癌细胞MCF- 7中表达和对其生长的作用,将fat -1基因插入到腺病毒载体中,构建腺病毒重组载体(Ad·GFP·fat1) .通过包装细胞系(2 93)产生重组腺病毒,感染MCF 7细胞.用核糖核酸酶保护性分析技术,检测fat -1基因在MCF- 7细胞内的表达,细胞增殖试剂盒(MTT)和凋亡染色试剂盒染色分析fat 1基因对MCF- 7细胞增殖和凋亡的影响,用酶联免疫分析花生酸类(eicosanoids)前列腺素E2 (prostaglandinE2 )的含量.结果显示,腺病毒介导的fat- 1基因能在MCF- 7细胞内有效异源表达,抑制MCF -7细胞的增殖且导致凋亡,前列腺素的含量也明显地减少.结果说明,fat- 1基因在乳腺癌的基因治疗中具有良好利用价值.     

Molecular cloning,sequence analysis and tissue-specific expression of Akirin2 gene in Tianfu goat

The Akirin2 gene is a nuclear factor and is considered as a potential functional candidate gene for meat quality. To better understand the structures and functions of Akirin2 gene, the cDNA of the Tianfu goat Akirin2 gene was cloned. Sequence analysis showed that the Tianfu goat Akirin2 cDNA full coding sequence (CDS) contains 579 bp nucleotides that encode 192 amino acids. A phylogenic tree of the Akirin2 protein sequence from the Tianfu goat and other species revealed that the Tianfu goat Akirin2 was closely related with cattle and sheep Akirin2. RT-qPCR analysis showed that Akirin2 was expressed in the myocardium, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, leg muscle, abdominal muscle and the longissimus dorsi muscle. Especially, high expression levels of Akirin2 were detected in the spleen, lung, and kidney whereas lower expression levels were seen in the liver, myocardium, leg muscle, abdominal muscle and longissimus dorsi muscle. Temporal mRNA expression showed that Akirin2 expression levels in the longissimus dorsi muscle, first increased then decreased from day 1 to month 12. Western blotting results showed that the Akirin2 protein was only detected in the lung and three skeletal muscle tissues.     

Changes in calpain and caspase gene expression at the mRNA level during bovine muscle satellite cell myogenesis and the correlation between the cell model and the muscle tissue

The calpain proteolytic system plays a central role in cell death and cell signaling. Caspases are a family of proteases implicated in apoptosis. The objective of this study was to explore the regulation and change trend of calpains (CAPN1 and CAPN3) and caspases (caspase-3, caspase-7, and caspase-9) expression at the mRNA level in Luxi cattle skeletal muscle satellite cells during proliferation and differentiation into myotubes. We also sought to assess whether there is a relationship between the muscle satellite cell model and skeletal muscle tissue. Satellite cells were isolated from longissimus dorsi muscle from Luxi cattle and cultured in vitro. Immunofluorescence was used to characterize satellite cells. Our study was divided into three groups: stage one, satellite cells proliferated at 50- and 80-% confluence; stage two, satellite cells differentiated at days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 15; stage three, not the satellite cells but the skeletal muscle tissue. Real-time PCR was used to quantify expression of calpains and the caspases at the mRNA level. These data demonstrated that CAPN1, CAPN3, CASP7, Myf5, and MyoG gene expression significantly increased from satellite cell proliferation to differentiation phases (P < 0.05). In contrast, CASP3 and CASP9 gene expression was significantly down-regulated during myogenesis (P < 0.05). Moreover, we put the CAPN1, CAPN3, CASP3, CASP7, CASP9, Myf5, and MyoG together to say that these genes expression had no significant correlation between the satellite cell model and the skeletal muscle tissue (P > 0.05). Here, we conclude that calpains (CAPN1 and CAPN3), caspases (caspase-3, caspase-7, and caspase-9), and Myf5 and MyoG all have important roles in satellite cell myogenesis. However, there is no relationship between the cell model and muscle tissue.     

Expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors in EL4 lymphoma cells overexpressing growth hormone

Almost all of the previous studies with growth hormone (GH) have been done with exogenously supplied GH and, therefore, involve actions of the hormone through its receptor. However, the actions of endogenous or lymphocyte GH are still unclear. In a previous study, we showed that overexpression of GH (GHo) in a lymphoid cell line resulted in protection of the cells to apoptosis mediated by nitric oxide (NO). In the present study, we show that the protection from apoptosis could be transferred to control cells with culture fluids obtained from GHo cells and blocked by antibodies to the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) or antibodies to the IGF-1-receptor (IGF-1R). Northern and Western blot analysis detected significantly higher levels of IGF-1 in cells overexpressing GH. An increase in the expression of the IGF-1R in GHo cells was also detected by Western blot analysis, (125)I-IGF-1 binding and analysis of IGF-1R promoter luciferase constructs. Transfection of GHo cells with a dominant negative IGF-1R mutant construct blocked the generation of NO and activation of Akt seen in GHo cells compared to vector alone control EL4 cells. The results suggest that one of the consequences of the overexpression of GH, in cells lacking the GH receptor, is an increase in the expression of IGF-1 and the IGF-1R which mediate the protection of EL4 lymphoma cells from apoptosis.     

Muscle-specific overexpression of the type 1 IGF receptor results in myoblast-independent muscle hypertrophy via PI3K, and not calcineurin, signaling

The insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II), working through the type 1 IGF receptor (IGF-1R), are key mediators of skeletal muscle fiber growth and hypertrophy. These processes are largely dependent on stimulation of proliferation and differentiation of muscle precursor cells, termed myoblasts. It has not been rigorously determined whether the IGFs can also mediate skeletal muscle hypertrophy in a myoblast-independent fashion. Similarly, although the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and calcineurin signaling pathways have been implicated in skeletal muscle hypertrophy, these pathways are also involved in skeletal myoblast differentiation. To determine whether the IGFs can stimulate skeletal muscle hypertrophy in a myoblast-independent fashion, we developed and validated a retroviral expression vector that mediated overexpression of the human IGF-1R in rat L6 skeletal myotubes (immature muscle fibers), but not in myoblasts. L6 myotubes transduced with this vector accumulated significantly higher amounts of myofibrillar proteins, in a ligand- and receptor-dependent manner, than controls and demonstrated significantly increased rates of protein synthesis. Stimulation of myotube hypertrophy was independent of myoblast contributions, inasmuch as these cultures did not exhibit increased levels of myoblast proliferation or differentiation. Experiments with PI3K and calcineurin inhibitors indicated that myoblast-independent myotube hypertrophy was mediated by PI3K, but not calcineurin, signaling. This study demonstrates that IGF can mediate skeletal muscle hypertrophy in a myoblast-independent fashion and suggests that muscle-specific overexpression of the IGF-1R or stimulation of its signaling pathways could be used to develop strategies to ameliorate muscle wasting without stimulating proliferative pathways leading to carcinogenesis or other pathological sequelae.     

Overexpression of the type-1 insulin-like growth factor receptor increases ligand-dependent proliferation and differentiation in bovine skeletal myogenic cultures

Previous studies demonstrated that overexpression of the type-1 insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor (IGF-1R) in skeletal myogenic cell lines increased proliferation and differentiation responses to IGF. However, it was unclear if such manipulations in primary, untransformed skeletal myogenic cells would result in modulation of these responses, which may be more stringently regulated in primary cells than in myogenic cell lines. In this study, low passage untransformed fetal bovine myogenic cultures were infected with a replication-deficient retroviral expression vector (LISN) coding for the human IGF-1R or with a control retroviral vector (LNL6). Bovine myogenic cultures infected with the LISN vector (Bov-LISN) displayed ten times more IGF-1Rs than controls (Bov-LNL6). Bov-LISN myogenic cultures exhibited elevated rates of IGF-I-stimulated proliferation and increased rates of terminal differentiation which were reduced to control levels by the anti-human IGF-1R antibody αIR3. These findings indicate overexpression of the IGF-1R can enhance IGF sensitivity and thereby modify the proliferation and differentiation behavior of untransformed low passage myoblasts. Such manipulations may be useful to increase muscle mass in clinical or agricultural applications. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Relationship of liver and skeletal muscle IGF-1 mRNA to plasma GH profile, production of IGF-1 by liver, plasma IGF-1 concentrations, and growth rates of cattle

Growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) concentrations in blood plasma of 18 crossbred cattle (six bulls, six steers, and six heifers) were measured over an 8-hr period. One week later at slaughter, IGF-1 production by liver slices and IGF-1 mRNA concentrations in skeletal muscle and liver were measured. Bulls had higher (P less than 0.05) mean plasma GH and GH peak amplitudes (P less than 0.01) than heifers, and values for steers were intermediate between bulls and heifers. Baseline GH concentrations and number of GH peaks were not significantly different for the three groups. Bulls had 1.6-fold (P less than 0.01) and 3.0-fold (P less than 0.01) greater liver IGF-1 mRNA concentrations than steers or heifers, respectively, whereas the steers had 1.8-fold (P less than 0.05) greater IGF-1 mRNA in liver than heifers. Production of IGF-1 by liver slices was greater (P less than 0.05) in bulls than steers or heifers. Bulls had 1.3-fold greater plasma IGF-1 than steers (P less than 0.01), whereas steers had 1.8-fold greater plasma IGF-1 than heifers (P less than 0.01). There were no significant differences in concentrations of skeletal muscle IGF-1 mRNA between the three groups of animals. Liver IGF-1 mRNA, liver IGF-1 production, and plasma IGF-1 were all significantly correlated with gain and mean GH peak amplitude, but not with GH baseline, GH peak frequency, or concentrations of T3 and T4. Concentrations if IGF-1 mRNA in skeletal muscle were not correlated to gain or any parameter of the GH profile. Plasma concentrations of T3 were significantly (P less than 0.05) negatively correlated to plasma GH baseline concentrations. Muscle IGF-1 mRNA concentration was negatively related to plasma T4 and T3. The results of this study suggest that the cascade of events starting with secretion of GH from the pituitary, expression of liver IGF-1 mRNA, and secretion of IGF-1 by the liver are important phenomena for growth of cattle.     

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Different Expression of MYOZ2 and MYOZ3 in Tianfu Goat

The myozenin family of proteins binds calcineurin, which is involved in myocyte differentiation of skeletal muscle. Moreover, gene expression of myozenin is closely related to meat quality. To further understand the functions and effects of myozenin2 (MYOZ2) and myozenin3 (MYOZ3) genes in goat, we cloned them from Tianfu goat longissimus dorsi muscle. Sequence analyses revealed that full-length coding sequence of MYOZ2 consisted of 795 bp and encoded 264 amino acids, and full-length coding sequence of MYOZ3 consisted of 735 bp and encoded 244 amino acids. RT-qPCR analyses revealed that mRNA expressions of MYOZ2 and MYOZ3 were detected in heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, leg muscle, abdominal muscle, and longissimus dorsi muscle. Particularly high expression levels of MYOZ2 were seen in abdominal muscle and heart (P<0.01), low expression levels were seen in leg muscle (P<0.01), longissimus dorsi muscle (P>0.05) and very little expression were detected in liver, spleen, lung and kidney (P>0.05). In addition, high expression levels of MYOZ3 were seen in abdominal muscle, leg muscle, lungs and kidney (P<0.01), low expression levels were found in longissimus dorsi muscle and spleen (P<0.01) and very little expression were detected in heart and liver (P>0.05). Temporal mRNA expression results showed that MYOZ2 and MYOZ3 gene expression varied across four muscle tissues with different ages of the goats. Western blotting further revealed that MYOZ2 and MYOZ3 proteins were only expressed in goat muscle, with notable temporal expression differences in specialized muscle tissues from five development age stages. This work provides the first evidence that MYOZ2 and MYOZ3 genes are expressed abundantly in Tianfu goat muscle tissues from different development age stages, and lay a foundation for understanding the functions of MYOZ2 and MYOZ3 genes in muscle fiber differentiation.     

Promoter variant-dependent mRNA expression of the MEF2A in longissimus dorsi muscle in cattle

The myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) gene encodes a member of the myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) protein family that is involved in vertebrate skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle development and differentiation during myogenesis. According to recent studies, MEF2 genes might be major regulators of postnatal skeletal muscle growth; thus, they are considered to be important, novel candidates for muscle development and body growth in farm animals. The aim of the present study was to search for polymorphisms in the bovine MEF2A gene and analyze their effect on the MEF2A mRNA expression level in the longissimus dorsi muscle of Polish Holstein-Fresian cattle. In total, 4094?bp of the whole coding sequence and the promoter region of MEF2A were re-sequenced in 30 animals, resulting in the detection of 6 novel variants as well as one previously reported SNP. Three linked mutations in the promoter region (-780T/G, g.-768T/G, and g.-222A/G) and only two genotypes were identified in two Polish breeds (TTA/TTA and TTA/GGG). Three SNPs in the coding region [g.1599G/A (421aa), g.1626G/A (429aa), and g.1641G/A (434aa)] appeared to be silent substitutions and segregated as two intragene haplotypes: GGG and AAA. Expression analysis showed that the mutations in the promoter region are highly associated with the MEF2A mRNA level in the longissimus dorsi muscle of bulls carrying two different genotypes. The higher MEF2A mRNA level was estimated in the muscle of bulls carrying the TTA/TTA (p<0.01) genotype as compared with those with TTA/GGG. The results obtained suggest that the nucleotide sequence mutation in MEF2A might be useful marker for body growth traits in cattle.     

Role of recombinant plasmid pEGFP-N1-IGF-1 transfection in alleviating osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats

Decreased levels of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) have been proven to cause osteoporosis. Gene transfer of IGF-1 offers an attractive technology to treat skeletal metabolic disorders including osteoporosis, but the viral vectors are limited by their high antigenicity and immune response. Our purpose was to investigate the expression of a non-invasive vector, recombinant plasmid enhanced green fluorescent protein-N1 (pEGFP-N1) that transferred IGF-1 gene into ovariectomized (OVX) rats in vivo and evaluate the effect of this therapy on osteoporosis. OVX or sham operations were performed in 60 female, 7-month-old unmated SD rats. 12 weeks after OVX operation, the vectors were transfected to the 10-month-old rats and experimental data were detected from 48 h to 7 week after transfection. Our results showed that remarkable expression of fluorescence and serum IGF-1 was observed in the rats transfected by recombinant plasmids, indicating that IGF-1 gene was successfully transferred to OVX rats by injecting the vector through hydrodynamic method via the tail vein. The bone metabolism index including serum alkaline phosphatase, the histomorphometric parameters of lumbar vertebra including trabecular area percentage, trabecular thickness, trabecular number and trabecular separation, and the bone mineral density (BMD) and biomechanical parameters of lumbar vertebra including BMD, maximum condensing force, crushing strength in OVX rats transfected by pEGFP-N1-IGF-1 were improved remarkably compared with OVX+pEGFP-N1 rats, indicating that the transfection of recombinant plasmid pEGFP-N1-IGF-1 played a significant role in alleviating osteoporosis in rats induced by OVX. This encouraged a potential approach of IGF-1 gene therapy to the treatment of osteoporosis.