Characteristics of rabbit transgenic mammary gland expressing recombinant human factor VIII

Anat Histol Embryol. 2009 Feb;38(1):85-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.2008.00875.x.

Abstract

The objective of this research was to compare (i) the content of milk protein and recombinant human factor VIII (rhFVIII) in the milk of transgenic and non-transgenic rabbit females at three lactations and (ii) histological structure, ultrastructural morphology and occurrence of apoptosis in rabbit transgenic and non-transgenic mammary gland during third lactation and involution. Significant differences (t(0.05)) in milk protein content were found between transgenic and non-transgenic at all three lactations. The percentage of apoptotic cells was significantly higher (t(0.01)) in non-transgenic ones compared with transgenic mammary gland tissues (6.5% versus 2.4%) taken at the involution stage. Morphometrical analysis of histological preparations at the involution stage detected a significantly higher (t(0.05)) relative volume of lumen in transgenic animals compared with non-transgenic ones (60.00 versus 46.51%). Ultrastructural morphology of the transgenic mammary gland epithelium at the involution stage revealed an increased relative volume of protein globules (t(0.05)); at the lactation stage, a significantly higher volume of mitochondria (13.8%) compared with the non-transgenic (9.8%) ones was observed. These results, although revealing differences in some parameters of ultrastructure and histology, indicate no harmful effect of the mouse whey acid protein-hFVIII transgene expression on the state of mammary gland of transgenic rabbit females.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / anatomy & histology
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / metabolism
  • Apoptosis
  • Factor VIII / analysis*
  • Factor VIII / biosynthesis
  • Factor VIII / genetics
  • Female
  • Lactation / genetics
  • Lactation / physiology
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / metabolism*
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / pathology
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / ultrastructure
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Milk Proteins / analysis*
  • Milk Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Milk Proteins / genetics
  • Rabbits

Substances

  • Milk Proteins
  • Factor VIII