Effects of thyroid hormone deficiency and replacement on rat hypothalamic growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone gene expression in vivo are mediated by GH

The role of thyroid hormone and GH in the regulation of hypothalamic GH-releasing hormone (GRH) gene expression in the rat was examined after the induction of thyroid hormone deficiency by thyroidectomy. Thyroidectomy resulted in a time-dependent decrease in hypothalamic GRH content, which was significant by 2 weeks postoperatively, and a reduction in pituitary GH content to 1% of the control level by 4 weeks. In contrast, GRH secretion by incubated hypothalami under both basal and K(+)-stimulated conditions was increased after thyroidectomy. Hypothalamic GRH mRNA levels also exhibited a time-dependent increase, which was significant at 1 week and maximal by 2 weeks after thyroidectomy. Administration of antirat GH serum to thyroidectomized rats resulted in a further increase in GRH mRNA levels. T4 treatment of thyroidectomized rats for 5 days, which also partially restored pituitary GH content, lowered the elevated GRH mRNA levels. However, comparable effects on GRH mRNA levels were observed by rat GH treatment alone. These results suggest that the changes in hypothalamic GRH gene expression after thyroidectomy in the rat are due to the GH deficiency caused by thyroidectomy, rather than a direct effect of thyroid hormone on the hypothalamus, since the changes were reversible by GH alone despite persistent thyroid hormone deficiency. In addition, they further support the role of GH as a physiological negative feedback regulator of GRH gene expression.     

Pituitary mammosomatotroph adenomas develop in old mice transgenic for growth hormone-releasing hormone

It has been shown that mice transgenic for human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GRH) develop hyperplasia of pituitary somatotrophs and mammosomatotrophs, cells capable of producing both growth hormone and prolactin, by 8 months of age. We now report for the first time that old GRH-transgenic mice, 16 to 24 months of age, develop pituitary mammosomatotroph adenomas. These findings provide conclusive evidence that protracted stimulation of secretory activity can cause proliferation, hyperplasia and adenoma of adenohypophysial cells.     

Binding and internalization of gold-conjugated somatostatin and growth hormone-releasing hormone in cultured rat somatotropes

Summary The synthetic peptides somatostatin (SRIF) and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GRH) were coupled directly to colloidal gold of different particle sizes. Both conjugates were biologically active in displacing the corresponding radiolabeled hormones from high affinity binding sites in pituitary membranes. Release of growth hormone (GH) from cultured anterior pituitary cells was modulated by both conjugates alone or in combination. Ultrastructural studies were performed with cells incubated at 4° C (2 h) and 37° C (2 min-2 h) with one of the labeled peptides or their combination. Somatotropes were identified by immunostaining with anti-rGH followed by protein A-ferritin, thus obtaining a triple labeling. Both hormone conjugates were internalized in different vesicles in the beginning but accumulated during longer incubation times in the same compartment. The secretory vesicles and the nucleus were not labeled by any hormone conjugate. In contrast to SRIF-gold, the uptake of GRH-gold conjugate decreased with longer incubation times. This effect could be neutralized by simulatenous incubation of the somatotropes with both regulating hormones. Hence, whereas the binding and internalization of SRIF by somatotropes do not seem to be influenced by GRH, the corresponding processes for GRH are stimulated by the presence of SRIF.     

两种不同终止子在转基因鲤鱼中的促生长效应

转基因构建体中启动子的选择会直接影响转植基因的活性, 近年来有研究表明转基因构建体中终止子的选择会一定程度地影响转植基因的活性。为了更好地筛选转基因构建体和培育快速生长的转“全鱼”生长激素(Growth hormone, GH)基因鱼, 文章用鲤鱼β-actin基因终止子和生长激素基因终止子分别构建了转基因构建体, 显微注射得到转“全鱼”GH基因鱼P0代养殖群体, 比较两种不同终止子构建体的活性。统计分析发现, 生长激素基因终止子构建体的养殖群体的体重频率呈正态分布且平均体重显著高于β-actin基因终止子构建体的养殖群体, β-actin基因终止子构建体的养殖群体的体重频率呈右倾趋势的非正态分布。值得一提的是在混合养殖组中得到一条生长最为快速的鲤鱼证实为转基因阳性且为生长激素基因终止子构建体的转基因鲤鱼。该结果表明转“全鱼”生长激素基因鲤鱼可快速生长, 并能将转植基因向下代遗传。实验结果提示生长激素基因终止子构建体比β-actin基因终止子构建体表现的促生长活性要强。     

Cloning and characterization of mouse growth hormone-releasing hormone (GRH) complementary DNA: increased GRH messenger RNA levels in the growth hormone-deficient lit/lit mouse

We have isolated and cloned the full length cDNA for mouse GH-releasing hormone (mGRH) from mouse hypothalamus using a recently described strategy involving the polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR). Degenerate oligonucleotide primers were selected based on short (six amino acids) conserved regions in the human and rat GRH peptides that would recognize DNA sequences encoding similar amino acids regardless of codon usage. Primer-extended cDNA was amplified by PCR on cDNA templates prepared by reverse transcribing total mouse hypothalamic RNA. After cloning and sequencing the initial product, the 3' and 5' ends of mGRH were generated using a separate PCR strategy (RACE protocol). The mGRH cDNA encodes a 103-amino acid reading frame, structurally similar to the human and rat GRH genes, containing a signal sequence, a 42-residue GRH peptide, and a 31-residue C-terminal region. Although the structures of mouse and rat GRH are highly conserved in the signal peptide and C-terminal region, there is considerable diversity in the GRH region, which exhibits nearly comparable homology with the rat (68%) and human (62%) structures. Differences between mouse and rat GRH were also found in the amino acid cleavage sites at the 5' and 3' ends of the mature peptide and at the polyadenylation signal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Tissue-specific posttranslational processing of pre-prosomatostatin encoded by a metallothionein-somatostatin fusion gene in transgenic mice

The somatostatins are neuropeptides of 14 and 28 amino acids that inhibit the release of growth hormone and other hypophyseal and gastrointestinal peptides. These neuropeptides are cleaved posttranslationally from a common precursor, pre-prosomatostatin. We report here the production and processing of pre-prosomatostatin by transgenic mice carrying a metallothionein-somatostatin fusion gene. The most active site of somatostatin production, as determined by hormone concentrations in the tissues, is the anterior pituitary, a tissue that does not normally synthesize somatostatin-like peptides. Anterior pituitary processed pre-prosomatostatin almost exclusively to the two biologically active peptides, somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-28, whereas the liver and kidney synthesized much smaller quantities of predominantly a 6000 dalton somatostatin-like peptide. The growth of the transgenic mice was normal despite high plasma levels of the somatostatin-like peptides. These studies indicate that proteases which cleave prosomatostatin to somatostatin-28 and somatostatin-14 are not specific to tissues that normally express somatostatin.     

Regulation of expression of a sheep metallothionein 1a-sheep growth hormone fusion gene in transgenic mice.

Transgenic mice containing a sheep metallothionein 1a-sheep growth hormone fusion gene exhibited low, tissue-specific basal levels of transgene mRNA expression, resulting in slightly elevated levels of circulating growth hormone that did not lead to a detectable increase in growth. After zinc stimulation, high levels of transgene mRNA expression were induced in a number of tissues; these levels correlated with increased levels of circulating growth hormone, resulting in growth increases of up to 1.5 times the levels of controls and unstimulated transgenic mice. After removal of the zinc stimulus, transgene expression and circulating growth hormone concentrations returned to basal levels. Additional evidence from the pattern of developmental expression of the transgene suggests that zinc is the main regulator of this promoter in mice. The demonstrated regulation and low basal level of expression of the sheep metallothionein 1a promoter make it a candidate for use in other mouse transgenic studies and for use in transgenic livestock, in which regulation of expression is essential.     

Somatotropic and lactotropic receptors in transgenic mice expressing human or bovine growth hormone genes

The somatotropic and lactotropic receptors were studied in liver microsomal preparations from transgenic mice carrying the human growth hormone (hGH) or bovine growth hormone (bGH) gene fused to mouse metallothionein-I (MT) or phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase promoter/regulator (PEPCK). Specificity studies indicated that, similarly to normal mice, liver microsomes from the transgenic animals possess a mixed population of somatotropic and lactotropic binding sites. In transgenic animals of both sexes, the binding capacity of somatotropic receptors was significantly increased without corresponding changes in affinity. Expression of the MT-hGH hybrid gene was associated with the induction of somatotropic receptors which was approximately twice as great as that measured in animals expressing the MT-bGH hybrid gene. The binding capacity of lactotropic receptors in liver microsomes (quantitated, by the use, of labelled ovine prolactin) was increased 2–3 fold in transgenic females and approximately 10-fold in transgenic males as compared to the respective normal controls. We conclude that lifelong excess of GH up-regulates hepatic GH and prolactin receptors, and that lactogenic activity of GH is not essential for induction of prolactin receptors in the liver of transgenic mice.     

Expression of a Novel Piscine Growth Hormone Gene Results in Growth Enhancement in Transgenic Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus)

Several lines of transgenic G1 and G2 tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) have been produced following egg injection with gene constructs carrying growth hormone coding sequences of fish origin. Using a construct in which an ocean pout antifreeze promoter drives a chinook salmon growth hormone gene, dramatic growth enhancement has been demonstrated, in which the mean weight of the 7 month old G2 transgenic fish is more than three fold that of their non transgenic siblings. Somewhat surprisingly G1 fish transgenic for a construct consisting of a sockeye salmon metallothionein promoter spliced to a sockeye salmon growth hormone gene exhibited no growth enhancement, although salmon transgenic for this construct do show greatly enhanced growth. The growth enhanced transgenic lines were also strongly positive in a radio-immuno assay for the specific hormone in their serum, whereas the non growth enhanced lines were negative. Attempts to induce expression from the metallo thionein promoter by exposing fish to increased levels of zinc were also unsuccessful.Homozygous transgenic fish have been produced from the ocean pout antifreeze/chinook salmon GH construct and preliminary trials suggest that their growth performance is similar to that of the hemizygous transgenics. No abnormalities were apparent in the growth enhanced fish, although minor changes to skull shape and reduced fertility were noted in some fish. There is also preliminary evidence for improved food conversion ratios when growth enhanced transgenic tilapia are compared to their non-transgenic siblings.The long term objective of this study is to produce lines of tilapia which are both growth enhanced and sterile, so offering improved strains of this important food fish for aquaculture.     

Transgene expression in mammary glands of newborn rats

Transgene expression in the mammary glands of newborn rats was studied to establish an early selection system for transgenic animals producing exogenous proteins in their milk during lactation. A fusion gene composed of the bovine alpha S1 casein gene promoter and the human growth hormone gene was microinjected into rat embryos. Transgenic lines that produced human growth hormone in their milk were established and used in this study. Immediately after birth, and without any hormone treatment, human growth hormone was found in the extracts of mammary glands from both male and female rats derived from the line secreting human growth hormone in their milk. The expression of the transgene in mammary glands of newborn rats was also detected by the presence of human growth hormone mRNA. Nontransgenic newborn rats did not express the human growth hormone gene in their mammary glands, while the mRNA for rat alpha casein, an endogenous milk protein, was found in all mammary glands from both transgenic and nontransgenic neonates. These results show that analyzing the expression of transgenes in the mammary glands of neonates is a valuable tool to select the desired transgenic animals and to shorten the selection schedules establishing the transgenic animals. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

IS THE GROWTH RATE HYPOTHESIS APPLICABLE TO MICROALGAE?1

The growth rate hypothesis (GRH) asserts, from known biochemistry, that maintaining high growth rates requires high concentrations of ribosomes. Since ribosomes are rich in phosphorus (P), the GRH predicts a positive correlation between growth rate and P content; this correlation is observed in some organisms. We consider the application of the GRH to phytoplankton and identify several key problems that require further research before the hypothesis can be accepted for these organisms. There are severe methodological problems that confound interpretation of data for testing the GRH. These problems include the measurement of protein and nucleic acids (such that ratio of these components carries a high level of uncertainty), studies of steady‐state versus dynamic systems, and the presentation of data per cell (especially as cell size varies with growth rate limitations) and the calculation of growth rates. In addition, because of the short generation times and rapid responses of these organisms to perturbations, ribosome and RNA content is expected to vary in response to (de)repression of various systems; content may increase on application of growth‐limiting stress. Finally, that most phytoplankton accumulate P when not P stressed conflicts with the GRH. In consequence, the value of the GRH for any sort of predictive role in nature appears to be severely limited. We conclude that the GRH cannot be assumed to apply to phytoplankton taxa without first performing experimental tests under transient conditions.     

Production of transgenic sheep with growth-regulating genes

Pronuclei of fertilized sheep ova were injected with fusion genes consisting of the mouse metallothionein-I promotor/regulator ligated to either the structural gene for bovine growth hormone (mMTbGH) or to a minigene for human growth hormone-releasing factor (mMThGRF). From a total of 842 sheep ova injected with mMTbGH and transferred into recipient ewes, 47 lambs were born. Two of the lambs were transgenic with mMTbGH, and both had bGH mRNA present in liver, kidney, and gut. In one lamb, plasma growth hormone was as high as 700 ng/ml. From a total of 435 sheep ova injected with mMThGRF and transferred to recipients, 54 lambs were born and 9 fetuses were collected. Nine of the 63 had integrated the mMThGRF gene. One of the nine had high concentrations of immunoassayable hGRF in its plasma and high variable plasma concentrations of ovine growth hormone. The lamb that expressed the hGRF gene did not release GH in response to an hGRF challenge. Four of five fetal offspring of a nonexpressing mMThGRF transgenic ram also contained the mMThGRF gene and, like the sire, failed to express the gene as determined by either liver hGRF mRNA or by plasma hGRF. Growth of the single transgenic lamb expressing hGRF was similar to control lambs. These studies demonstrate efficient introduction of genes into the sheep genome and indicate that transgenes are expressed and heritable.     

Tissue-specific transcription initiation and effects of growth hormone (GH) deficiency on the regulation of mouse and rat GH-releasing hormone gene in hypothalamus and placenta

Hypothalamic GRH gene expression has been shown to be negatively regulated by GH in both rat and mouse. The recent reports of different 5' untranslated sequences in mouse GRH cDNA from hypothalamus and placenta have raised the possibility of tissue-specific regulation of the GRH gene. To provide support for this possibility, we have studied rodent models with GH deficiency due to genetic defects in the pituitary. Complementary DNA probes for the hypothalamic and placental 5' regions were used to determine the tissue specificity of each mRNA. Although the hypothalamic form of GRH mRNA was detected in placenta, it constituted less than 0.7% of total placental GRH mRNA. A placental 5' probe (based on the previously reported sequence) hybridized only with a larger mRNA species and was not tissue specific, indicating that it was not related to GRH and was derived possibly from a cloning artifact. The correct 5' sequence of mouse placental GRH cDNA was determined and shown to be distinct from both that previously reported and the hypothalamic sequence. Although the placental form of GRH mRNA was detected in hypothalamus using the polymerase chain reaction, its levels were undetectable by Northern blotting. The 5' end of rat placental GRH cDNA was similarly sequenced and shown to exhibit no homology with the rat 5' hypothalamic sequence, but a high degree of homology with the corresponding mouse placental sequence. In GH-deficient dwarf (dw/dw) rats, hypothalamic GRH mRNA levels were significantly increased above control levels in both females and males, and pregnancy did not alter the levels in either (dw) or control rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Activin A increases cytosolic free calcium concentration in rat pituitary somatotropes.

The effect of activin A on the cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in normal rat pituitary cells was examined using a calcium sensitive fluorescent dye, indo 1 AM, and a digital imaging fluorescent microscope system. The cells showing an increase in [Ca2+]i in response to activin A were then characterized by comparison with cells responding to growth hormone releasing hormone (GRH), thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in monolayer cultures of normal rat pituitary cells. Activin A increased [Ca2+]i in some cells in a mixed population of normal rat pituitary cells. The cells that responded to activin A also responded to GRH. Most of these cells were not affected by other tropic hormones (CRH, TRH, and GnRH), but a few cells responded to both GRH and TRH. None of the activin A-responding cells responded to CRH or GnRH, and none of the CRH- or GnRH-responding cells responded to activin A. In a preparation of somatotropes purified 80-90% by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, activin A increased [Ca2+]i in 30% of the cells that shows a [Ca2+]i-response to GRH. These findings suggest direct involvement of somatotropes in activin A-induced biological events in the rat pituitary gland.     

饥饿状态下转基因鲤鱼和对照鲤鱼血清生长激素的表达研究

研究采用酶联免疫吸附测定(Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays,ELISA)技术,比较分析了转GH基因鲤鱼和对照鲤鱼在饥饿和饱食状态下血清生长激素水平的变化规律,并探讨其可能机制.实验结果表明,在投喂实验中,转基因鲤鱼和对照鲤鱼血清生长激素水平均无明显变化,但转基因鲤鱼血清生长激素远高于对照鲤鱼,分别为(142.0±4.9)ng/mL和(1.6±0.2)ng/mL,转基因鲤鱼体重增长速率显著高于对照鱼.在饥饿实验中,转基因鲤鱼的血清生长激素迅速下降,从(142.0±4.9)ng/mL降至(46.0±3.2)ng/mL,而后稳定在这一较低水平;对照鲤鱼血清生长激素持续卜升,从(1.6±0.2)ng/mL升至(10.9±1.4)ng/mL,体重负增长速率没有显著差异.研究结果提示,转GH基因鲤鱼血清生长激素的调控机制与对照鲤鱼的不同,其表达水平不受脑垂体反馈抑制调控机制的影响,而与重组GH基因中β-actin基因启动子的调控模式相关.     

鲤鱼生长激素基因在鲫鱼中的基因转移及PCR检测

鲫鱼群体内,个体之间的生长速度差别不大,遗传保守性较强,用常规育种方法很难获得生长速度快、个体差异较大的后代。通过基因转移技术,将外源基因如鱼的生长激素基因导入鱼的受精卵中,而获得转基因鱼是鱼类定向育种的一条有效途径。已有报道,在虹蹲鱼生长激素ｃＤＮＡ上游连结一个病毒启动子构建成表达质粒,由此获得的转基因鲤鱼比对照生长速度快２０％。但是未见有将鲤鱼生长激素基因导入鲫鱼受精卵的报导。我们克隆了鲤鱼生长激素基因,并用它构建了含有病毒启动子（Ｆｉｇ．１,插入片段为０．８Ｋｂ,位于ＸｂａＩ和ＰｓｔＩ之间）的表达质粒（Ｆｉｇ．２,命名为ｐＣＭＶ－ＴＫ－ＣＧＨ）。用该质粒对鲫鱼受精卵进行注射,共注射了１０００粒卵,获得了转基因实验鲫鱼４８０尾,孵化率为４８％。将其中１００尾幼鱼于水簇箱中进行放养。选择其中个体较大的５０尾进行ＰＣＲ（检测。其中８条鱼的基因组ＤＮＡ有０．６Ｋｂ的ＰＣＲ扩增产物（Ｆｉｇ．３）,表明其上整合有外源的鲤鱼生长激素基因,其整合率为１６％。其中最大的一条体重４．２ｇ,体长６ｃｍ,比对照（０．７ｇ,４ｃｍ）体重增加５倍,体长增加２ｃｍ（Ｆｉｇ．４）。我们构建的是高效表达质粒,其上含有巨细胞病毒增强子和     

Bushbaby growth hormone is much more similar to nonprimate growth hormones than to rhesus monkey and human growth hormones

Unlike other mammals, Old World primates have five growth hormone-like genes that are highly divergent at the amino acid level from the single growth hormone genes found in nonprimates. Additionally, there is a change in the interaction of growth hormone with its receptor in humans such that human growth hormone functions in nonprimates, whereas nonprimate growth hormone is ineffective in humans. A Southern blotting analysis of the genome of a prosimian, Galago senegalensis, revealed a single growth hormone locus. This single gene was PCR-amplified from genomic DNA and sequenced. It has a rate of nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution less than one fourth that of the human growth hormone gene, while the rates of synonymous substitution in the two species are less different. Human and rhesus monkey growth hormones exhibit variation at a number of amino acid residues that can affect receptor binding. The galago growth hormone is conservative at each of these sites, indicating that this growth hormone is functionally like nonprimate growth hormones. These observations indicate that the amplification and rapid divergence of primate growth hormones occurred after the separation of the higher primate lineage from the galago lineage.