first transgenic animal developed

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Volume 22, Number 1, 2002 41 DISASTER RELIEF FUND Animal health companies and more than 1,400 consumers and veterinarians have contributed more than $180,000 to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (AVMF) since the Sept. 11 attack on the United States. AVMF’s disaster relief fund supports the Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT) that have been treating search and rescue dogs at the World Trade Center “ground zero” site since Sept. 12. The Iams Company has been a leading corporate contributor to AVMF disaster relief since 1998. Those wishing to support theAVMF’s disaster relief efforts are encouraged to do so by calling 800-248-2862, ext. 600; visiting its secure website at www.avmf.org; or by sending a check or money order to the AVMF at 1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173. The American Veterinary Medical Foundation is a $1.5 million 501 (c) (3) charity that advances the care and value of animals in society by raising and distributing funds in support of disaster refiet animal health studies, and veterinary education. It was stablished by the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1963. FIRST TRANSGENIC ANIMAL DEVELOPED Scientists at the School have success- fully used a retrovirus to modify genes in spermatogonial stem cells in a mouse— the first instance, in any species, of a transgenic animal created by inserting a gene into male germ-line stem cells. The inserted gene subsequently appeared in approximately 4.5 percent of offspring of mice transplanted with the altered stem cells, and was transmitted to at least three succeeding generations. The work was the cover story in the Nov. 6 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The findings should enable the creation of transgenic individuals in a wide range of species, permitting scientists to develop research models for study of numerous human diseases. Edited from Bellwether, No. 51. NEW HORSE HEART TESTING SERVICE Equine veterinarians at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (NCCVM) are announcing its new non-invasive, pulmonary function testing service. NCCVM’s teaching hospital is one of only two sites in the US able to perform the testing. The testing diagnoses and monitors a horse’s heart and airwaves for obstructions. It is particularly helpful in diagnosing horses with inflammatory airway disease. Without testing, clinical signs of the disease are exercise intolerance and cough. However, testing can uncover airway hyperactivity. The testing can also establish baseline measurements from which to monitor environmental management and anti-inflammatory therapies. Contact: Celeste Brogdon (919) 513-6662. LSU RECEIVES USDA GRANT TO STUDY EQUINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE The United States Department of Agriculture has awarded two Louisiana State University (LSU) veterinarians a $164,000 grant to investigate endothelin-1. This is a naturally occurring substance in horses and humans; researchers are examining its role in equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). The disease is a common equine respiratory condition that causes bronchial constriction, pulmonary inflammation and emphysema in later stages. It is associated with other diseases, often referred to as “heaves,” which is similar to asthma in humans. However, the condition in horses is not as well understood. LSU researchers believe endothelin-I is produced by a substance that lines blood vessels, tissues and cells. Its function is to constrict and in the lungs this leads to a closing of the horse’s airway passages. While scientists continue to learn more about the condition, the ultimate goal of their research is to discover blocks to endothelin receptors to allow airways to remain open. Since RAO in horses is similar to asthma in humans, the research serves as a model for studies of the human form of the disease. ILLEGAL COMPOUNDING OF CLEN- BUTEROL In 1998, FDA approved a new animal drug application (NADA) for Ventipulmin8 Syrup, which contains a small amount of clenbuterol, as a restricted use prescription-only drug for treating horses affected with airway obstruction. When FDA approved the NADA for VentipulminE~’ (sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheirn Vetmedica, Inc.), several controls were put in place to ensure that this drug would not be misused in food-producing animals. Ventipulmin(K is the only clenb- uterol drug product approved for use in the U.S. Ventipulmin 8 may only be used in horses not intended for food. FDA has special concern with clenbuterol, a betaagonist drug that has been used illegally in the U.S. to enhance production of food animals. The use of clenbuterol in other countries has resulted in documented adverse reactions in humans who ingested meat containing residues of clenbuterol. In recent years, availability of illegal clenbuterol formulations, produced as “compounded” drug product has increased steadily. The Animal Medical Drug Use Clarification Act (AMDUCA) permits compounding under very limited circumstances. Compounding must be done only on the order of a licensed veterinarian, based upon a valid veterinarian/client/patient relationship from approved human or veterinary drugs. In addition, other criteria must be met including establishing the need for a compounded product, and pro- hibitions against use of some drug products in food-producing animals. AMDUCA (http://www.fda.,gov/cvm/

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Page 1: First transgenic animal developed

Volume 22, Number 1, 2002 41

DISASTER RELIEF FUND

Animal health companies and more than 1,400 consumers and veterinarians have contributed more than $180,000 to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (AVMF) since the Sept. 11 attack on the United States. AVMF’s disaster relief fund supports the Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT) that have been treating search and rescue dogs at the World Trade Center “ground zero” site since Sept. 12. The Iams Company has been a leading corporate contributor to AVMF disaster relief since 1998.

Those wishing to support the AVMF’s disaster relief efforts are encouraged to do so by calling 800-248-2862, ext. 600; visiting its secure website at www.avmf.org; or by sending a check or money order to the AVMF at 1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173.

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation is a $1.5 million 501 (c) (3) charity that advances the care and value of animals in society by raising and distributing funds in support of disaster refiet animal health studies, and veterinary education. It was stablished by the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1963.

FIRST TRANSGENIC ANIMAL DEVELOPED

Scientists at the School have success-fully used a retrovirus to modify genes in spermatogonial stem cells in a mouse— the first instance, in any species, of a transgenic animal created by inserting a gene into male germ-line stem cells. The inserted gene subsequently appeared in approximately 4.5 percent of offspring of mice transplanted with the altered stem cells, and was transmitted to at least three succeeding generations.

The work was the cover story in the Nov. 6 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The findings should enable the creation of transgenic individuals in a wide range of species, permitting scientists to develop research models for study of numerous

human diseases. Edited from Bellwether, No. 51.

NEW HORSE HEART TESTING SERVICE

Equine veterinarians at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (NCCVM) are announcing its new non-invasive, pulmonary function testing service. NCCVM’s teaching hospital is one of only two sites in the US able to perform the testing. The testing diagnoses and monitors a horse’s heart and airwaves for obstructions. It is particularly helpful in diagnosing horses with inflammatory airway disease. Without testing, clinical signs of the disease are exercise intolerance and cough. However, testing can uncover airway hyperactivity. The testing can also establish baseline measurements from which to monitor environmental management and anti-inflammatory therapies. Contact: Celeste Brogdon (919) 513-6662.

LSU RECEIVES USDA GRANT TO STUDY EQUINE

RESPIRATORY DISEASE

The United States Department of Agriculture has awarded two Louisiana State University (LSU) veterinarians a $164,000 grant to investigate endothelin-1. This is a naturally occurring substance in horses and humans; researchers are examining its role in equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). The disease is a common equine respiratory condition that causes bronchial constriction, pulmonary inflammation and emphysema in later stages. It is associated with other diseases, often referred to as “heaves,” which is similar to asthma in humans. However, the condition in horses is not as well understood. LSU researchers believe endothelin-I is produced by a substance that lines blood vessels, tissues and cells. Its function is to constrict and in the lungs this leads to a closing of the horse’s airway passages. While scientists continue to learn more about the condition, the ultimate goal of their research is to discover blocks to endothelin receptors to allow airways

to remain open. Since RAO in horses is similar to asthma in humans, the research serves as a model for studies of the human form of the disease.

ILLEGAL COMPOUNDING OF CLEN-BUTEROL

In 1998, FDA approved a new animal drug application (NADA) for Ventipulmin8 Syrup, which contains a small amount of clenbuterol, as a restricted use prescription-only drug for treating horses affected with airway obstruction. When FDA approved the NADA for VentipulminE~’ (sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheirn Vetmedica, Inc.), several controls were put in place to ensure that this drug would not be misused in food-producing animals.

Ventipulmin(K is the only clenb-uterol drug product approved for use in the U.S. Ventipulmin 8 may only be used in horses not intended for food. FDA has special concern with clenbuterol, a betaagonist drug that has been used illegally in the U.S. to enhance production of food animals. The use of clenbuterol in other countries has resulted in documented adverse reactions in humans who ingested meat containing residues of clenbuterol.

In recent years, availability of illegal clenbuterol formulations, produced as “compounded” drug product has increased steadily. The Animal Medical Drug Use Clarification Act (AMDUCA) permits compounding under very limited circumstances. Compounding must be done only on the order of a licensed veterinarian, based upon a valid veterinarian/client/patient relationship from approved human or veterinary drugs. In addition, other criteria must be met including establishing the need for a compounded product, and pro-hibitions against use of some drug products in food-producing animals. AMDUCA (http://www.fda.,gov/cvm/