[An immunocytochemical analysis of the hormonal status of animals transgenic for growth hormone genes and for a mini-gene of human growth hormone-releasing factor].

An immunocytochemical analysis of hormonal status of transgenic rats containing human growth hormone gene has been done. The enhanced expression of the endogenous growth hormone gene was demonstrated with poly- and monoclonal antibodies inside somatatropes of pituitary. No activity of the heterologous growth hormone gene was revealed in kidney, pancreas or liver as it might be expected according to specificity of MT1 and TAT promotors. Transgenic animals of F0, F1 and F2 generation exhibited disturbance of functional morphology of glucagon and insulin producing cells. Lymphocyte infiltration was found in pancreatic islets. The transgenic rabbits and swine with the gene of releasing factor of human growth hormone did not reveal any severe disturbance. Although one swine demonstrated alterations in glucagon producing cells and one rabbit revealed a disturbed morphology of the stomach tissues. The data are discussed in relation to general problems of transgene activity and interaction with endogenous homolog.