Welfare assessment in transgenic pigs expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)
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Welfare assessment in transgenic pigs expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). / Huber, Reinhard C. ; Remuge, Liliana ; Carlisle, Ailsa ; Lillico, Simon; Sandøe, Peter; Sørensen, Dorte Bratbo; Whitelaw, C. Bruce A.; Olsson, I. Anna S.
I: Transgenic Research, Bind 21, Nr. 4, 2012, s. 773-784.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Welfare assessment in transgenic pigs expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)
AU - Huber, Reinhard C.
AU - Remuge, Liliana
AU - Carlisle, Ailsa
AU - Lillico, Simon
AU - Sandøe, Peter
AU - Sørensen, Dorte Bratbo
AU - Whitelaw, C. Bruce A.
AU - Olsson, I. Anna S.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Since large animal transgenesis has been successfully attempted for the first time about 25 years ago, the technology has been applied in various lines of transgenic pigs. Nevertheless one of the concerns with the technology—animal welfare—has not been approached through systematic assessment and statements regarding the welfare of transgenic pigs have been based on anecdotal observations during early stages of transgenic programs. The main aim of the present study was therefore to perform an extensive welfare assessment comparing heterozygous transgenic animals expressing GFP with wildtype animals along various stages of post natal development. The protocol used covered reproductory performance and behaviour in GFP and wildtype sows and general health and development, social behaviour, exploratory behaviour and emotionality in GFP and wildtype littermates from birth until an age of roughly 4 months. The absence of significant differences between GFP and wildtype animals in the parameters observed suggests that the transgenic animals in question are unlikely to suffer from deleterious effects of transgene expression on their welfare and thus support existing anecdotal observations of pigs expressing GFP as healthy. Although the results are not surprising in the light of previous experience, they give a more solid fundament to the evaluation of GFP expression as being relatively non-invasive in pigs. The present study may furthermore serve as starting point for researchers aiming at a systematic characterization of welfare relevant effects in the line of transgenic pigs they are working with.
AB - Since large animal transgenesis has been successfully attempted for the first time about 25 years ago, the technology has been applied in various lines of transgenic pigs. Nevertheless one of the concerns with the technology—animal welfare—has not been approached through systematic assessment and statements regarding the welfare of transgenic pigs have been based on anecdotal observations during early stages of transgenic programs. The main aim of the present study was therefore to perform an extensive welfare assessment comparing heterozygous transgenic animals expressing GFP with wildtype animals along various stages of post natal development. The protocol used covered reproductory performance and behaviour in GFP and wildtype sows and general health and development, social behaviour, exploratory behaviour and emotionality in GFP and wildtype littermates from birth until an age of roughly 4 months. The absence of significant differences between GFP and wildtype animals in the parameters observed suggests that the transgenic animals in question are unlikely to suffer from deleterious effects of transgene expression on their welfare and thus support existing anecdotal observations of pigs expressing GFP as healthy. Although the results are not surprising in the light of previous experience, they give a more solid fundament to the evaluation of GFP expression as being relatively non-invasive in pigs. The present study may furthermore serve as starting point for researchers aiming at a systematic characterization of welfare relevant effects in the line of transgenic pigs they are working with.
U2 - 10.1007/s11248-011-9571-1
DO - 10.1007/s11248-011-9571-1
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 22173943
VL - 21
SP - 773
EP - 784
JO - Transgenic Research
JF - Transgenic Research
SN - 0962-8819
IS - 4
ER -
ID: 37810953