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Nonhereditary Enhancement of Progeny Growth

Center for Cell and Gene Therapy (A.K., L.A.H, K.K.C., R.D.A.), Children’s Nutrition Research Center (M.F.), Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology (P.B.M., D.P., R.J.S., R.G.S., R.D.A.), and Huffington Center on Aging (R.G.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Advisys, Inc., 2700 Research Forest Drive, Suite 180, The Woodlands, Texas 77381. E-mail: ruxandradraghia{at}advisys.net.

The im electroporated injection of a protease-resistant GH-releasing hormone cDNA into rat dams at 16 d gestation resulted in enhanced long-term growth of the F₁ offspring. The offspring were significantly heavier by 2 wk of age, and the difference was sustained to 10 wk of age. Consistent with their augmented growth, the plasma IGF-I concentration of the F₁ progeny was increased significantly. The pituitary gland of the offspring was significantly heavier and contained an increased number of somatotrophs and PRL-secreting cells, which is indicative of modification of cell lineage differentiation. These unique findings demonstrate that enhanced GH-releasing hormone expression in pregnant dams can result in intergenerational growth promotion by altering development of the pituitary gland in the offspring.

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