| abstract |
(57) [Problem] To provide a regucalcin overexpression model animal, such as a bone disease state represented by osteoporosis, which overexpresses regucalcin originally expressed in the liver and the like of a higher animal. SOLUTION: A regucalcin cDNA is cloned from a rat liver cDNA library, a cDNA encoding a full-length regucalcin protein is isolated, an ORF is cut out from the full-length rat regucalcin cDNA, and introduced into an expression vector (pCXN2). The gene expression vector is microinjected into the male pronucleus of a fertilized oocyte of a rat, and the fertilized egg is transplanted into the oviduct of a foster rat to generate offspring rats. Such transgenic rats exhibit a morphologically and biochemically significant bone pathology, and their weight gain is significantly suppressed. |