Transgenic animal models as tools for studying renal developmental physiology.

Transgenic animal technology, which allows the germline insertion of exogenous genes or the alteration or disruption of endogenous genes, has emerged as a powerful tool for the in vivo analysis of gene function. Since the primary strategy of transgenic techniques is to examine the biological results of lifetime overproduction or underproduction of particular gene products, perhaps no field is better suited for such technology than developmental biology. Indeed, many new phenotypes observed in novel transgenic models involve the alteration of some aspect of development or growth. Considerable information regarding genes involved in the regulation of renal developmental physiology and pathophysiology has emerged from the use of transgenic technology over recent years. We will review the use of traditional transgenic approaches and the resulting animal models, as well as describe more recent advances that allow tissue-specific, cell-specific, and temporal control of genes involved in kidney development.