Lessons From Genetically Engineered Animal Models I. Physiological studies with gastrin in transgenic mice*

Wang, Timothy C., and Graham J. Dockray. Lessons From Genetically Engineered Animal Models. I. Physiological studies with gastrin in transgenic mice. Am. J. Physiol. 277 (Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 40): G6–G11, 1999.—The role of gastrin in the regulation of gastrointestinal growth and acid secretion has been addressed through recent studies involving transgenic and knockout mice. The role of gastrin as a key modulator of parietal cell function and gastric acid secretion has been confirmed through studies in mice deficient in either gastrin or the gastrin/CCK-B receptor. However, although gastrin-deficient mice show no changes in gastric proliferation, they do show reduced colonic proliferation, and rates of colonic proliferation are increased in transgenic mice overexpressing glycine-extended gastrin or progastrin. This themes article highlights recent progress in our understanding of the biology of gastrin through studies in genetically modified mice.