The hepatic and renal expressions of the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) were examined in transgenic (Tg) mice which overexpress a rat IGFBP-1 transgene driven by the phosphoglycerate kinase-1 promoter. There were no significant differences in the abundance of serum IGFBPs in Tg and wild-type (Wt) mice. Although total hepatic IGFBP-1 mRNA (mouse and transgene-derived) levels were similar in Tg mice to the levels of mouse IGFBP-1 mRNA in Wt mice on day 1 of life, in Tg mice only ∼30% of the IGFBP-1 mRNA was derived from transcription of the mouse gene. An age-related decline in hepatic IGFBP-1 mRNA levels was apparent in both Tg and Wt mice. Food deprivation resulted in increased levels of mouse IGFBP-1 mRNA but the total IGFBP-1 mRNA levels were not significantly different in Tg and Wt mice. In the kidney, unlike the liver, IGFBP-1 mRNA levels in Tg mice were markedly elevated compared with Wt mice and no significant decline was seen with age. Northern blots of hepatic and renal RNA demonstrated similar levels of IGFBP-3, -4, -5 and -6 mRNAs in Tg and Wt mice. From these data we can conclude that in the liver expression of the transgene leads to a coordinated reduction in mouse IGFBP-1 mRNA levels.

Journal of Endocrinology (1997) 152, 99–108