Abstract
Direct microinjection has been used to introduce foreign DNA into a number of terminally differentiated cell types as well as embryos of several species including sea urchin1, Candida elegans2, Xenopus3, Drosophila4,5 and mice6–11. Various genes have been successfully introduced into mice including constructs consisting of the mouse metallothionein-I (MT) promoter/regulator region fused to either the rat or human growth hormone (hGH) structural genes. Transgenic mice harbouring such genes commonly exhibit high, metal-inducible levels of the fusion messenger RNA in several organs, substantial quantities of the foreign growth hormone in serum and enhanced growth12,13. In addition, the gene is stably incorporated into the germ line, making the phenotype heritable. Because of the scientific importance and potential economic value of transgenic livestock containing foreign genes, we initiated studies on large animals by microinjecting the fusion gene, MT–hGH13, into the pronuclei or nuclei of eggs from superovulated rabbits, sheep and pigs. We report here integration of the gene in all three species and expression of the gene in transgenic rabbits and pigs.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
McMahon, A. P. et al. Devl Biol. 108, 420–430 (1985).
Stinchcomb, D., Shaw, J., Carr, S. & Hirsh, D. in Genetic Manipulation of the Mammalian Ovum and Early Embryo (eds Costantini, F. & Jaenish, R.) (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, in the press)
Rusconi, S. & Shaffner, W. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 5051–5055 (1981).
Spradling, A. C. & Rubin, G. M. Science 218, 341–347 (1982).
Rubin, G. M. & Spradling, A. C. Science 218, 348–353 (1982).
Gordon, J. W., Scangos, G. A. Plotkin, D. J., Barbosa, J. A. & Ruddle, F. H. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 7380–7384 (1980).
Harbers, K., Jahner, D. & Jaenisch, R. Nature 293, 540–542 (1981).
Wagner, E. F., Stewart, T. A. & Mintz, B. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 5016–5020 (1981).
Wagner, T. E. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 6376–6380 (1981).
Brinster, R. L. et al. Cell 27, 223–231 (1981).
Costantini, F. & Lacy, E. Nature 294, 92–94 (1981).
Palmiter, R. D. et al. Nature 300, 611–615 (1982).
Palmiter, R. D., Norstedt, G., Gelinas, R. E., Hammer, R. E. & Brinster, R. L. Science 222, 809–814 (1983).
Brinster, R. L., Chen, H. Y., Trumbauer, M. E., Yagle, M. & Palmiter, R. D. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (in the press).
Wall, R. J., Pursel, V. G., Hammer, R. E. & Brinster, R. L. Biol. Reprod. 32, 645–651 (1985).
Baile, C. A., Della-Fera, M. & McLaughlin, C. L. Growth 47, 225–236 (1983).
Chung, C. S., Etherton, T. D. & Wiggins, J. P. J. anim. Sci. 60, 118–130 (1985).
Palmiter, R. D., Chen, H. Y. & Brinster, R. L. Cell 29, 701–710 (1982).
Barsh, G., Seeberg, P. & Gelinas, R. Nucleic Acids Res. 11, 3939–3958 (1983).
Brinster, R. L. Expl Cell Res. 51, 330–334 (1969).
Brinster, R. L. in Growth, Nutrition and Metabolism of Cells in Culture Vol. 2 (eds Rothblat, G. & Cristofalo, V.) 251–286 (Academic, New York, 1972).
Brinster, R. L. J. exp. Med. 140, 1049–1056 (1974).
Brinster, R. L. & Thomson Ten Broeck, J. J. reprod. Fert. 19, 417–421 (1969).
Armstrong, D. T., Pfitzner, A. P., Warnes, G. M., Ralph, M. M. & Seamark, R. F. J. reprod. Fert. 67, 395–401 (1983).
Ornitz, D. M. et al. Nature 313, 600–602 (1985).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hammer, R., Pursel, V., Rexroad, C. et al. Production of transgenic rabbits, sheep and pigs by microinjection. Nature 315, 680–683 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/315680a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/315680a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.