Gene knockout mice demonstrate that IGF-I is essential for normal muscle development

摘要: Insulin like growth factor (IGF-I) is a pleiotropic hormone synthesized by wide variety of cell types and with effects on diverse set target tissues. IGF-I has been implicated in linear growth, glucose metabolism, organ homeostasis the development function immune nervous systems. As an approach to definition role whole animal we have generated mice inactivating mutation gene encoding IGF-I. This was accomplished replacing one endogenous allele embryonic stem cells copy that neomycin resistance inserted into region encodes mature protein. These es were than used generate mice. Heterozygotes (one normal mutant allele) are healthy fertile but 10-20% smaller their wild-type littermates. difference primarily due decreased muscle mass. In contrast, which homozygous for die at birth half weight The cause this peri-natal death being investigated.