Impaired pericyte recruitment and abnormal retinal angiogenesis as a result of angiopoietin-2 overexpression

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (01) ◽  
pp. 99-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuxi Feng ◽  
Franziska vom Hagen ◽  
Frederick Pfister ◽  
Snezana Djokic ◽  
Sigrid Hoffmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
Mouse Retina ◽  
Vascular Density ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Transgenic Mouse Line ◽  
Oxygen Induced Retinopathy ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Angiopoietin 2 ◽  
The Impact

SummaryAngiopoietin-2 (Ang2) is among the relevant growth factors induced by hypoxia and plays an important role in the initiation of retinal neovascularizations. Ang2 is also involved in incipient diabetic retinopathy, as it may cause pericyte loss. To investigate the impact of Ang2 on developmental and hypoxia-induced angiogenesis, we used a transgenic mouse line overexpressing human Ang2 in the mouse retina. Transgenic mice displayed a reduced coverage of capillaries with pericytes (-14 %; p<0.01) and a 46% increase of vascular density of the capillary network at postnatal day 10 compared to wild type mice. In the model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), Ang2 overexpression resulted in enhanced preretinal (+103%) and intraretinal neovascularization (+29%). Newly formed intraretinal vessels in OIR were also pericyte-deficient (-26 %; p<0.01). The total expression of Ang2 in transgenic mice was seven-fold, compared with wild type controls. Ang2 modulated expression of genes encoding VEGF (+65%) and Ang1 (+79%) in transgenic animals. These data suggest that Ang2 is involved in pericyte recruitment, and modulates intraretinal, and preretinal vessel formation in the eye under physiological and pathological conditions.

scholarly journals Overexpression of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase under the control of mouse metallothionein I promoter in transgenic mice: evidence for a striking post-transcriptional regulation of transgene expression by a polyamine analogue

1999 ◽  
Vol 338 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suvikki SUPPOLA ◽  
Marko PIETILÄ ◽  
Jyrki J. PARKKINEN ◽  
Veli-Pekka KORHONEN ◽  
Leena ALHONEN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Transgenic Mouse ◽  
Cell Injury ◽  
Mrna Level ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
Ultrastructural Changes ◽  
Mouse Line ◽  
Transgenic Mouse Line ◽  
Polyamine Analogue

We recently generated a transgenic mouse line overexpressing spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) gene under its own promoter. The tissue polyamine pools of these animals were profoundly affected and the mice were hairless from early age. We have now generated another transgenic-mouse line overexpressing the SSAT gene under the control of a heavy-metal-inducible mouse metallothionein I (MT) promoter. Even in the absence of heavy metals, changes in the tissue polyamine pools indicated that a marked activation of polyamine catabolism had occurred in the transgenic animals. As with the SSAT transgenic mice generated previously, the mice of the new line (MT-SSAT) suffered permanent hair loss, but this occurred considerably later than in the previous SSAT transgenic animals. Liver was the most affected tissue in the MT–SSAT transgenic animals, revealed by putrescine overaccumulation, significant decrease in spermidine concentration and > 90% reduction in the spermine pool. Even though hepatic SSAT mRNA accumulated to massive levels in non-induced transgenic animals, SSAT activity was only moderately elevated. Administration of ZnSO4 further elevated the level of hepatic SSAT message and induced enzyme activity, but not more than 2- to 3-fold. Treatment of the transgenic animals with the polyamine analogue N1,N11-diethylnorspermine (DENSPM) resulted in an immense induction, more than 40000-fold, of enzyme activity in the liver of transgenic animals, and minor changes in the SSAT mRNA level. Liver spermidine and spermine pools were virtually depleted within 1–2 days in response to the treatment with the analogue. The treatment also resulted in a marked mortality (up to 60%) among the transgenic animals which showed ultrastructural changes in the liver, most notably mitochondrial swelling, one of the earliest signs of cell injury. These results indicated that, even without its own promoter, SSAT is powerfully induced by the polyamine analogue through a mechanism that appears to involve a direct translational and/or heterogenous nuclear RNA processing control. It is likewise significant that overexpression of SSAT renders the animals extremely sensitive to polyamine analogues.

scholarly journals Transgenic mice expressing the human ornithine decarboxylase gene under the control of mouse metallothionein I promoter

1996 ◽  
Vol 314 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leena ALHONEN ◽  
Sami HEIKKINEN ◽  
Riitta SINERVIRTA ◽  
Maria HALMEKYTÖ ◽  
Pekka ALAKUIJALA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Ornithine Decarboxylase ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
Decarboxylase Activity ◽  
Transgenic Mouse Line ◽  
Regulatory Machinery ◽  
Dividing Cells ◽  
Very High

We have generated a transgenic mouse line harbouring the human ornithine decarboxylase gene under the control of mouse metallothionein I promoter. Even in the absence of an exposure to heavy metals, ornithine decarboxylase was over-expressed in heart, testis, brain, and especially in liver, of the transgenic animals. An exposure of the transgenic mice to zinc further enhanced the enzyme activity to a level which in liver represented up to 8000-fold increase in comparison with non-transgenic animals. The striking stimulation of liver ornithine decarboxylase activity upon treatment of the transgenic mice with zinc was accompanied by a nearly 150-fold increase in the hepatic putrescine content as compared with similarly treated non-transgenic animals. Even though the liver putrescine concentration reached that of spermidine and spermine in the transgenic animals, the contents of the higher polyamines only transiently increased upon zinc administration and then returned to the basal level. These findings once again indicate that mammalian cells possess extremely powerful regulatory machinery to prevent an over-accumulation of spermidine and spermine in non-dividing cells, and that very high tissue putrescine concentrations can be tolerated, at least for periods of a few days, with seemingly no phenotypic changes.

scholarly journals High Dietary Iron Disrupts Iron Homeostasis and Induces Amyloid-β and Phospho-τ Expression in the Hippocampus of Adult Wild-Type and APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice

2019 ◽  
Vol 149 (12) ◽  
pp. 2247-2254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Chen ◽  
Jiashuo Zheng ◽  
Guohao Liu ◽  
Chong Zeng ◽  
En Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Iron Homeostasis ◽  
Iron Concentration ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Dietary Iron ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Brain Iron ◽  
Sod Activity ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Background Brain iron deposition is a feature of Alzheimer disease and may contribute to its development. However, the relative contribution of dietary iron remains unclear. Objectives We investigated the impact of high dietary iron on brain pathological changes and cognitive function in adult wild-type (WT) mice and amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) double transgenic mice. Methods Male WT mice and APP/PS1 mice aged 10 wk were fed either a control diet (66 mg Fe/kg) (WT-Ctrl and APP/PS1-Ctrl) or a high iron diet (14 g Fe/kg) (WT-High Fe and APP/PS1-High Fe) for 20 wk. Iron concentrations in brain regions were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Brain iron staining and amyloid-β (Aβ) immunostaining were performed. Protein expressions in the hippocampus were determined by immunoblotting. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde concentration were examined. Cognitive functions were tested with the Morris water maze system. Results In the hippocampus, APP/PS1-High Fe mice had significantly higher iron concentration (2.5-fold) and ferritin (2.0-fold) than APP/PS1-Ctrl mice (P < 0.001), and WT-High Fe mice had significantly higher ferritin (2.0-fold) than WT-Ctrl mice (P < 0.001). Interestingly, APP/PS1 mice had significantly higher iron concentration (2–3-fold) and ferritin (2–2.5-fold) than WT mice fed either diet (P < 0.001). Histological analysis indicated that iron accumulated in the hippocampal dentate gyrus region in APP/PS1 mice, consistent with the pattern of Aβ deposition. For both mouse strains, iron treatment induced Aβ and phospho-τ expression (1.5–3-fold) in the hippocampus, but had little impact on oxidative stress and cognitive function. Furthermore, APP/PS1 mice had significantly lower SOD activity and higher malondialdehyde concentration than WT mice in the hippocampus (P < 0.0001), paralleled by apparent cognitive dysfunction. Conclusions Dietary iron overload induces iron disorder and Aβ and phospho-τ expression in the hippocampus of adult WT and APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

scholarly journals Bi-transgenic Mice Reveal that K-rasVal12 Augments a p53-independent Apoptosis When Small Intestinal Villus Enterocytes Reenter the Cell Cycle

1997 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig M. Coopersmith ◽  
Chitra Chandrasekaran ◽  
M. Shane McNevin ◽  
Jeffrey I. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Activating Mutations ◽  
Cell Cycle Reentry ◽  
Cell Matrix ◽  
Small Intestinal ◽  
Small Intestinal Villus ◽  
Cell Matrix Interactions

Studies in cell culture systems have indicated that oncogenic forms of Ras can affect apoptosis. Activating mutations of Ras occur in ∼30% of all human tumors and 50% of colorectal carcinomas. Since these mutations appear at early or intermediate stages in multistep journeys to neoplasia, an effect on apoptosis may help determine whether initiated cells progress towards a more neoplastic state. We have tested the effects of K-rasVal12 on apoptosis in transgenic mice. A lineage-specific promoter was used to direct expression of human K-rasVal12, with or without wild-type (wt) or mutant SV-40 T antigens (TAg), in postmitotic villus enterocytes, the principal cell type of the small intestinal epithelium. Enterocytes can be induced to reenter the cell cycle by TAgWt. Reentry is dependent upon the ability of TAg to bind pRB and is associated with a p53-independent apoptosis. Analyses of K-rasVal12 × TAgWt bi-transgenic animals indicated that K-rasVal12 can enhance this apoptosis threefold but only in cycling cells; increased apoptosis does not occur when K-rasVal12 is expressed alone or with a TAg containing Glu107,108→ Lys107,108 substitutions that block its ability to bind pRB. Analysis of bi-transgenic K-rasVal12 × TAgWt mice homozygous for wild-type or null p53 alleles established that the enhancement of apoptosis occurs through a p53-independent mechanism, is not attributable to augmented proliferation or to an increase in abortive cell cycle reentry (compared to TAgWt mice), and is not associated with detectable changes in the crypt–villus patterns of expression of apoptotic regulators (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bak, and Bax) or mediators of epithelial cell–matrix interactions and survival (e.g., α5β1 integrin and its ligand, fibronectin). Coexpression of K-rasVal12 and TAgWt produces dysplasia. The K-rasVal12-augmented apoptosis is unrelated to this dysplasia; enhanced apoptosis is also observed in cycling nondysplastic enterocytes that produce K-rasVal12 and a TAg with a COOH-terminal truncation. The dysplastic epithelium of K-rasVal12 × TAgWt mice does not develop neoplasms. Our results are consistent with this finding: (a) When expressed in initiated enterocytes with a proliferative abnormality, K-rasVal12 facilitates progression to a dysplastic phenotype; (b) by diminishing cell survival on the villus, the oncoprotein may impede further progression; and (c) additional mutations may be needed to suppress this proapoptotic response to K-rasVal12.

Hemostasis and coagulation at a hematocrit level of 0.85: functional consequences of erythrocytosis

Blood ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 101 (11) ◽  
pp. 4416-4422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junpei Shibata ◽  
Jo Hasegawa ◽  
Hans-Joachim Siemens ◽  
Eva Wolber ◽  
Leif Dibbelt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Thrombus Formation ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
Blood Analysis ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Coagulation Activity ◽  
Transgenic Mouse Line ◽  
Human Erythropoietin ◽  
Functional Consequences ◽  
Plasmatic Coagulation

Abstract We have generated a transgenic mouse line that reaches a hematocrit concentration of 0.85 due to constitutive overexpression of human erythropoietin in an oxygen-independent manner. Unexpectedly, this excessive erythrocytosis did not lead to thrombembolic complications in all investigated organs at any age. Thus, we investigated the mechanisms preventing thrombembolism in this mouse model. Blood analysis revealed an age-dependent elevation of reticulocyte numbers and a marked thrombocytopenia that matched the reduced megakaryocyte numbers in the bone marrow. However, platelet counts were not different from wild-type controls, when calculations were based on the distribution (eg, plasma) volume, thereby explaining why thrombopoietin levels did not increase in transgenic mice. Nevertheless, bleeding time was significantly increased in transgenic animals. A longitudinal investigation using computerized thromboelastography revealed that thrombus formation was reduced with increasing age from 1 to 8 months in transgenic animals. We observed that increasing erythrocyte concentrations inhibited profoundly and reversibly thrombus formation and prolonged the time of clot development, most likely due to mechanical interference of red blood cells with clot-forming platelets. Transgenic animals showed increased nitric oxide levels in the blood that could inhibit vasoconstriction and platelet activation. Finally, we observed that plasmatic coagulation activity in transgenic animals was significantly decreased. Taken together, our findings suggest that prevention of thrombembolic disease in these erythrocytotic transgenic mice was due to functional consequences inherent to increased erythrocyte concentrations and a reduction of plasmatic coagulation activity, the cause of which remains to be elucidated.

scholarly journals Public and private V beta T cell receptor repertoires against hen egg white lysozyme (HEL) in nontransgenic versus HEL transgenic mice.

1994 ◽  
Vol 180 (3) ◽  
pp. 861-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Cibotti ◽  
J P Cabaniols ◽  
C Pannetier ◽  
C Delarbre ◽  
I Vergnon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Transgenic Mouse Line ◽  
Hen Egg

We have previously produced a transgenic mouse line for hen egg lysozyme (HEL), an experimental model for analyzing tolerance to self-antigens at the peptide level. We have now characterized transgenic mice with HEL blood levels below 2 ng/ml, where significant T cell proliferative responses to HEL and its immunodominant peptide were observed. This HEL-low transgenic model was chosen because it mimics physiological conditions in which autoreactive T lymphocytes, recognizing self-components expressed at very low levels, persist without inducing a break in tolerance. Furthermore, in H-2d mice, HEL-specific T lymphocytes are triggered by a single immunodominant region, allowing us to compare the HEL-specific T cell V beta repertoires of transgenic and nontransgenic animals against a single peptide presented as self or foreign, respectively. We found that a V beta 8.2-D beta 1-J beta 1.5 rearrangement is found in response to HEL in all nontransgenic mice, whereas this V beta-restricted response is absent in HEL-low transgenic animals. At the nucleotide level, this rearrangement results from the trimming of the genomic segments during VDJ or DJ joining, without N additions, suggesting that the dominant rearrangement is selected early during fetal or neonatal life, before the expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. In HEL-low transgenic mice, no dominant rearrangements are found as alternatives to the one observed in normal mice. Instead, each transgenic animal uses a different set of V beta-J beta combinations in its response to the immunodominant HEL peptide. In nontransgenic mice, besides the dominant V beta 8.2-D beta 1-J beta 1.5 combination, minor V beta repertoires were found which differed in each animal and were distinct from the rearrangements used by individual transgenic mice. These findings suggest that the T cell response to an immunodominant peptide involves a "public" V beta repertoire found in all animals and a "private" one which is specific to each individual.

scholarly journals Isolation of Glomerular Podocytes by Cationic Colloidal Silica-coated Ferromagnetic Nanoparticles

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-87
Author(s):  
Andreas Blutke
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Ferromagnetic Nanoparticles ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Isolated Cells ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Isolated Glomeruli ◽  
Fluorescent Markers

Background: Podocyte homeostasis plays a crucial role for the maintenance of physiological glomerular function and podocyte injury is regarded as a major determinant of development and progression of renal disease. Objective: Investigation of podocytes requires appropriate methods for their isolation. Previously reported methods use podocyte specific antibodies or transgenic mice with podocyte specific expression of fluorescent markers for isolation of podocytes by magnetic or fluorescence activated cell sorting. Method: Here, a novel, antibody-free method for isolation of podocyte protein and RNA from mouse glomeruli is described. Preparations of isolated glomeruli were added to a suspension of cationic silica-coated colloidal ferromagnetic nanoparticles. The nanoparticles bound to the negatively charged cell surfaces of podocytes residing on the outer surface of the isolated glomeruli. After enzymatic and mechanical dissociation of glomerular cells, nanoparticle-coated podocytes were isolated in a magnetic field. The method was tested in adult wild-type mice without renal lesions and in mice of two nephropathy models (Growth hormone (GH)-transgenic mice and transgenic mice expressing a dominant negative receptor for the glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, GIPRdn) displaying albuminuria, glomerular hypertrophy and evidence for a reduced negative cell surface charge of podocytes. Results: The isolated cells displayed typical morphological and ultrastructural properties of podocytes. On average, 182,000 ± 37,000 cells were counted in the podocyte isolates harvested from ~10,000-12,000 glomeruli per mouse. On the average, the purity of podocyte isolates of these mice accounted for ~63 ± 18 % and the podocyte isolates displayed high mRNA and protein expression abundances of podocyte markers (nephrin and WT1), whereas the expression of endothelial (Cd31) and mesangial markers (Serpinb7) was significantly decreased in podocyte isolates, as compared to samples of isolated glomeruli. The numbers of cells isolated from GH- transgenic and GIPRdn-transgenic mice were not markedly different from that of wild-type mice. Conclusion: The described method represents an alternative for podocyte isolation, particularly in experiments where podocyte specific antibodies or transgenic animals with podocyte specific expression of fluorescent markers are not applicable.

A simple polymerase chain reaction assay for genotyping the retinal degeneration mutation (Pdebrd1) in FVB/N-derived transgenic mice

2001 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Giménez ◽  
L. Montoliu
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Retinal Degeneration ◽  
Inbred Mice ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
Mouse Strains ◽  
Rod Photoreceptor ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain

FVB/N mice are one of the most common inbred strains for the generation of transgenic animals. This mouse strain is preferred for transgenesis because of its fertilized oocytes, which have unique pronuclei for microinjection, and its vigorous reproductive performance along with consistently large litter sizes. However, these inbred mice carry a retinal degeneration mutation caused by a proviral insertion into the Pdeb gene, encoding the β subunit of cGMP phosphodiesterase. This mutation ( Pdebrd1, formerly known as rd) results in postnatal rod photoreceptor degeneration and causes severe visual impairment, which may be relevant for behavioural and vision-related research. This deficit can be overcome by crossing these mice with other mouse strains carrying the wild-type allele at the Pdeb locus. We have devised a simple polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for distinguishing between the mutant and the wild-type alleles, thus allowing the efficient monitoring of the Pdebrd1 mutation in FVB/N-derived transgenic mice prior to experimentation where visual deficit is expected to have an influence in the phenotype.

Transgenic animals modelling polyamine metabolism-related diseases

2009 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 125-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leena Alhonen ◽  
Anne Uimari ◽  
Marko Pietilä ◽  
Mervi T. Hyvönen ◽  
Eija Pirinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
Polyamine Metabolism ◽  
Phenotypic Characterization ◽  
Previous Knowledge ◽  
Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Metabolic Cycle

Cloning of genes related to polyamine metabolism has enabled the generation of genetically modified mice and rats overproducing or devoid of proteins encoded by these genes. Our first transgenic mice overexpressing ODC (ornithine decarboxylase) were generated in 1991 and, thereafter, most genes involved in polyamine metabolism have been used for overproduction of the respective proteins, either ubiquitously or in a tissue-specific fashion in transgenic animals. Phenotypic characterization of these animals has revealed a multitude of changes, many of which could not have been predicted based on the previous knowledge of the polyamine requirements and functions. Animals that overexpress the genes encoding the inducible key enzymes of biosynthesis and catabolism, ODC and SSAT (spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase) respectively, appear to possess the most pleiotropic phenotypes. Mice overexpressing ODC have particularly been used as cancer research models. Transgenic mice and rats with enhanced polyamine catabolism have revealed an association of rapidly depleted polyamine pools and accelerated metabolic cycle with development of acute pancreatitis and a fatless phenotype respectively. The latter phenotype with improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity is useful in uncovering the mechanisms that lead to the opposite phenotype in humans, Type 2 diabetes. Disruption of the ODC or AdoMetDC [AdoMet (S-adenosylmethionine) decarboxylase] gene is not compatible with mouse embryogenesis, whereas mice with a disrupted SSAT gene are viable and show no harmful phenotypic changes, except insulin resistance at a late age. Ultimately, the mice with genetically altered polyamine metabolism can be used to develop targeted means to treat human disease conditions that they relevantly model.

Concurrent overexpression of ornithine decarboxylase and spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase further accelerates the catabolism of hepatic polyamines in transgenic mice

2001 ◽  
Vol 358 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suvikki SUPPOLA ◽  
Sami HEIKKINEN ◽  
Jyrki J. PARKKINEN ◽  
Mikko UUSI-OUKARI ◽  
Veli-Pekka KORHONEN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Ornithine Decarboxylase ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
Transgenic Mouse Line ◽  
Polyamine Catabolism ◽  
Permanent Loss ◽  
Organ Specific ◽  
Polyamine Analogue ◽  
Efflux Mechanism ◽  
Ssat Activity

We have generated a hybrid transgenic mouse line overexpressing both ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) under the control of the mouse metallothionein (MT) I promoter. In comparison with singly transgenic animals overexpressing SSAT, the doubly transgenic mice unexpectedly displayed much more striking signs of activated polyamine catabolism, as exemplified by a massive putrescine accumulation and an extreme reduction of hepatic spermidine and spermine pools. Interestingly, the profound depletion of the higher polyamines in the hybrid animals occurred in the presence of strikingly high ODC activity and tremendous putrescine accumulation. Polyamine catabolism in the doubly transgenic mice could be enhanced further by administration of zinc or the polyamine analogue N1,N11-diethylnorspermine. In tracer experiments with [14C]spermidine we found that, in comparison with syngenic animals, both MT-ODC and MT-SSAT mice possessed an enhanced efflux mechanism for hepatic spermidine. In the MT-ODC animals this mechanism apparently operated in the absence of measurable SSAT activity. In the hybrid animals, spermidine efflux was stimulated further in comparison with the singly transgenic animals. In spite of a dramatic accumulation of putrescine and a profound reduction of the spermidine and spermine pools, only marginal changes were seen in the level of ODC antizyme. Even though the hybrid animals showed no liver or other organ-specific overt toxicity, except an early and permanent loss of hair, their life span was greatly reduced. These results can be understood from the perspective that catabolism is the overriding regulatory mechanism in the metabolism of the polyamines and that, even under conditions of severe depletion of spermidine and spermine, extremely high tissue pools of putrescine are not driven further to replenish the pools of the higher polyamines.

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