The effects of agouti-related protein gene transfer in vivo by electroporation in mice.

Abstract

In the present study, the cDNA encoding agouti-related protein (AGRP) gene known as an orexigenic factor was transferred in vivo to test whether food intake and body weight gain is improved in mice. When the expression plasmid of AGRP gene driven by mouse beta-actin, pActAGRP, was transferred into leg muscle by electroporation, body weight of gene-transferred mice was significantly increased at 14 days and afterwards compared with that of control counterparts (p < 0.05). Likewise, daily food intake was also significantly higher in the AGRP gene-transferred mice than in the control mice at 4 days and afterwards (p < 0.05). A significant increase in serum AGRP concentration of the AGRP gene-transferred group was detected compared with the control group at 1 week (p < 0.01), but the difference quickly disappeared at 3 weeks. However, the hypothalamic NPY mRNA abundance of AGRP gene-transferred mice was significantly higher than that of the control mice at 3 weeks (p < 0.05). These results suggested that instead of hormone administration per se, in vivo AGPR gene transfer into skeletal muscle was found to mimic hormonal effects. The present methodology of in vivo gene transfer by electroporation might be useful to promote growth and food intake in farm livestock as well as experimental animals.

• Authors: Lan Xiang, Atsushi Murai, Tatsuo Muramatsu
• Journal: Neuroscience letters (Neurosci Lett) Vol. 370 Issue 2-3 Pg. 108-13 (Nov 11 2004) ISSN: 0304-3940 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 15488304 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• AGRP protein, human
• Agouti-Related Protein
• Agrp protein, mouse
• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Neuropeptide Y
• Proteins
• RNA, Messenger
• Green Fluorescent Proteins

Topics

• Agouti-Related Protein
• Animals
• Blotting, Western (methods)
• Body Weight (physiology)
• Eating (physiology)
• Electroporation
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (methods)
• Gene Expression (genetics)
• Gene Transfer Techniques
• Green Fluorescent Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Humans
• Hypothalamus (metabolism)
• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Muscles (metabolism)
• Neuropeptide Y (metabolism)
• Organ Size (genetics)
• Proteins (genetics, physiology)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Time Factors