Characterization of a novel ghrelin cell reporter mouse

Regul Pept. 2009 Jun 5;155(1-3):91-8. doi: 10.1016/j.regpep.2009.04.001. Epub 2009 Apr 8.

Abstract

Ghrelin is a hormone that influences many physiological processes and behaviors, such as food intake, insulin and growth hormone release, and a coordinated response to chronic stress. However, little is known about the molecular pathways governing ghrelin release and ghrelin cell function. To better study ghrelin cell physiology, we have generated several transgenic mouse lines expressing humanized Renilla reniformis green fluorescent protein (hrGFP) under the control of the mouse ghrelin promoter. hrGFP expression was especially abundant in the gastric oxyntic mucosa, in a pattern mirroring that of ghrelin immunoreactivity and ghrelin mRNA. hrGFP expression also was observed in the duodenum, but not in the brain, pancreatic islet, or testis. In addition, we used fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) to collect and partially characterize highly enriched populations of gastric ghrelin cells. We suggest that these novel ghrelin-hrGFP transgenic mice will serve as useful tools to better understand ghrelin cell physiology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Duodenum / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
  • Ghrelin / blood
  • Ghrelin / metabolism*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Testis / metabolism

Substances

  • Ghrelin
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins