Frequency-domain measurement of vibrotactile driving responses in first-order afferent populations

Surface recordings made at the wrist during moderate vibrotactile stimulation of a digit display rhythmic activity at the frequency of the driving stimulus. This activity is abolished by local anesthesia of the stimulated digit and by substitution of the corresponding digit of the opposite hand with the recording geometry and the load on the stimulator unchanged. Several additional features of the response are similarly incompatible with an artifactual origin in properties of the stimulus motion or the associated electromagnetic field, but consistent with previous neurophysiological observations. The frequency-domain analysis extends readily to the single-trial level, making the technique potentially useful for a variety of basic research and clinical purposes.

Chicken egg antibodies for immunohistochemical labeling of growth hormone and prolactin in bovine pituitary gland

We describe the production of polyclonal chicken antibodies specific for bovine growth hormone (bGH) and prolactin (PRL). Antibodies were generated by immunization of laying hens with recombinant bGH (rbGH), pituitary derived bGH (pbGH), and ovine PRL (oPRL). After the lipoprotein fraction was removed by dextran sulfate precipitation the antibodies were isolated from the egg yolks by ammonium sulfate precipitation. Immunization with rbGH and oPRL generated large amounts of specific antibodies, as revealed by ELISA and Western blot analysis. Antibodies against pbGH showed pronounced crossreactions with oPRL. The antibodies against rbGH and oPRL were well suited for sensitive and specific labeling of the GH- and PRL-synthesizing cells in bovine pituitary glands by immunohistochemistry. In addition, a quick and sensitive procedure for demonstration of both bGH- and PRL-synthesizing cells in a single paraffin section by double immunohistochemistry is presented. The chicken anti-bGH antibodies showed excellent results in combination with rabbit anti-PRL antibodies. The main advantage of avian antibodies in double immunostaining methods is the lack of crossreactions between avian antibodies and mammalian immunoglobulins and receptors which bind to the crystalline fragment of mammalian immunoglobulins (Fc receptors).

The GH-transgenic mouse as an experimental model for growth research: clinical and pathological studies

The objectives and the methodology of mammalian gene transfer are discussed and findings in growth hormone (GH) transgenic mice are reported to illustrate the potential offered by genetically designed animal models for investigations in various areas of biomedical research. Transgenic mice expressing hybrid genes composed of either human or bovine GH coding sequences fused to the mouse metallothionein I promoter show high serum levels of heterologous GH, increased growth rates and final adult size, decreased life expectancy and a variety of pathological changes.

Accelerated growth and visceral lesions in transgenic mice expressing foreign genes of the growth hormone family: an overview

Effects of growth hormone (GH) overproduction were studied in transgenic mice expressing murine metallothionein I-GH fusion genes. The most obvious consequence was the acceleration of growth, which led to substantial increases in body weight of up to more than twice that seen in controls. Growth of the internal organs was stimulated, with hepatomegaly and nephromegaly as the most prominent features. GH transgene expression was also reflected in increased skeletal growth which affected various bones to different extents. The mean life-span of human GH transgenic mice with serum levels of hGH ranging from 3 x 10(3) to 9 x 10(5) ng/ml was drastically reduced at 160 days in both sexes. Severe renal lesions were the primary cause of the decrease in life expectancy and were characterized by marked nephron atrophy, obsolescence of numerous glomeruli, and a massive cystic dilation of the tubules. Initial changes involved the glomeruli, which showed significant enlargement and sclerotic lesions. The liver exhibited a pronounced hepatocellularmegaly and progressive degenerative as well as hyperplastic changes. One-third of the hGH transgenic animals displayed myocardial fibrosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma was found in bovine GH transgenic mice older than 12 months. Our observations are compared with results of other investigators.