The Characterization and Hormonal Regulation of Kidney Androgen- Regulated Protein (Kap)-Luciferase Transgenic Mice

The androgen-dependent regulation for the gene encoding the kidney androgen regulated protein (Kap) was examined in trans-genic mice expressing luciferase (luc) under the control of the murine Kap promoter. Biophotonic imaging was used to visualize luciferase expression from the kidneys and various organs that was confirmed using luminometer assays. Kap-luc expression was observed at high levels in kidneys, epididymides, testes, and sem-inal vesicles in male mice, and in kidneys, ovaries, and uterus in female mice. Kap-luc expression was modulated by androgen and anti-androgen treatment in both male and female mice. Male mice were treated daily with the anti-androgenic compounds, cyprot-erone acetate (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) and flutamide (50 and 100 mg/kg/day), or vehicle for 16 days. Endpoints evaluated included in vivo biophotonic imaging, body weights, organ weights (liver, kidney, testes, epididymides, preputial gland, and seminal vesi