Impaired growth of pancreatic exocrine cells in transgenic mice expressing human activin {beta}E subunit

Journal Article · Fri Mar 10 00:00:00 EST 2006 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.12.205· OSTI ID:20798830

Hashimoto, Osamu ^[1]; Ushiro, Yuuki ^[1]; Sekiyama, Kazunari ^[1]; Yamaguchi, Osamu ^[1]; Yoshioka, Kazuki ^[2]; Mutoh, Ken-Ichiro ^[2]; Hasegawa, Yoshihisa ^[1]

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1. Laboratory of Experimental Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Towada, Aomori 034-8628 (Japan)
2. Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Towada, Aomori 034-8628 (Japan)

Activins, TGF-{beta} superfamily members, have multiple functions in a variety of cells and tissues. Recently, additional activin {beta} subunit genes, {beta}C and {beta}E, have been identified. To explore the role of activin E, we created transgenic mice overexpressing human activin {beta}E subunit. There were pronounced differences in the pancreata of the transgenic animals as compared with their wild-type counterparts. Pancreatic weight, expressed relative to total body weight, was significantly reduced. Histologically, adipose replacement of acini in the exocrine pancreas was observed. There was a significant decrease in the number of PCNA-positive cells in the acinar cells, indicating reduced proliferation in the exocrine pancreas of the transgenic mice. However, quantitative pancreatic morphometry showed that the total number and mass of the islets of the transgenic mice were comparable with those of the nontransgenic control mice. Our findings suggest a role for activin E in regulating the proliferation of pancreatic exocrine cells.

• OSTI ID: 20798830
• Journal Information: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 341, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.12.205; PII: S0006-291X(06)00043-X; Copyright (c) 2006 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0006-291X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
CELL PROLIFERATION
GENES
PANCREAS
TRANSGENIC MICE