Expression of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone in the mammary gland of transgenic mice

In this article, we describe the use of a caprine β-lactoglobulin (βLG) expression cassette previously obtained by our group to target the expression of the human follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH) to the mammary gland of transgenic mice. The hFSH is a pituitary glycoprotein composed of two subunits (α and β). At present, this protein is obtained from mammalian cellular fermentors, and it is extensively used in the treatment of human infertility. Four lines of double (hFSHα/β) transgenic mice that stably transmitted the transgenes were obtained, and hFSHα and hFSHβ mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in the mammary gland of lactating females from all four transgenic lines. The hFSH protein was present in the mammary gland of the lactating females, but could not be detected in the milk by Western blot, probably as a result of low levels of transgene expression. © 2006 Humana Press Inc. All rights of any nature whatsoever reserved.