Objective To establish a double reporter transgenic mice for monitoring Cre recombinase activity. Methods ZAP DNA fragment with lacZ and human alkaline phosphatase (hAP) gene was microinjected into the male pronucleus of 554 fertilized eggs from C57BL/6 mice. The founder mice and their progeny were screened for integration of transgene into the mouse genome by PCR and Southern blotting. The expression of lacZ transgene at early embryos from F1 generation mice was analyzed by X gal staining. Results A total of 398 survival ZAP DNA injected fertilized eggs were transfered to the oviducts of 21 pseudopregnant recipient mice. Of the 21 recipient mice, 13 became pregnancy and gave birth to 68 offspring mice. The zygote survival rate and birth rate were 71% (398/554) and 17% (68/398), respectively. Of the 68 offspring mice, 9 mice (5 males and 4 females) were identified by PCR and Southern blot analysis. Total integration rate and efficiency of transgene was 13% (9/68) and 1.6% (9/554), respectively. Nine mice as the founders were back crossed to set up F1 generation with other inbred C57BL/6 mice. Out of 9 transgenic mice, transmission of reporter gene in F1 offspring mice followed Mendelian rules, but the expression of lacZ protein was detected at the early embryonic stage (13.5 days postcoitum) in only 3 mice. Conclusion A double reporter transgenic mice for monitoring Cre recombinase activity is established.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of beta 2-adrenoceptor (beta 2-AR) gene with hypertension in elderly patients.

METHODSThe study samples were collected from unrelated Chinese Han population of Dabie Mountain in Anhui province. Eighty-six elderly patients with hypertension and 43 controls were selected. Genotypes of +1053 and +1239 SNPs were typed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

RESULTSThe frequencies of the two SNPs complied well with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in normal group. The distribution of genotypes AA, GA,GG of the SNP at locus +1239 in moderate and severe hypertension group was significantly different from that in normal group (chi square=8.67, P<0.05). There were evident differences in the frequencies of alleles of the two groups (chi square=4.02, P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the distribution of genotypes of the SNP at locus +1053 between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThese data indicate that the SNP at locus +1239 of beta 2-AR gene is associated with hypertension in elderly patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; DNA ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 ; genetics