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An attempt is made to integrate recent findings in humans and transgenic mice with results of in vitro studies to lead to better understanding of functions of surfactant proteins B and C (SP-B and SP-C) in this review. The structural basis for their actions is considered. Complete deficiency of SP-B in mice and humans brings on lethal, neonataol respiratory distress syndrome with virtual absence of lung compliance, very disorganized lamellar bodies, and very diminished levels of SP-C mature peptide. SP-C-null mice have normal lung structure/function.

This review examines structure-function relationships between specific contractile proteins and cardiac function using transgenic animals. Results establish that by specifically altering cardiac proteins in a defined manner, changes in the function of the modified proteins can be studied.

This article examines the use of transgenic animal models in the study of animal physiology and biomedical research. Research describes the adrenergic receptor signaling pathway and its influence on the regulation of cardiac contractility using animal models.

Mouse models of airway responsiveness for the study of asthma are discussed. The physiological basis of outcomes and analysis of certain examples for these outcome indicators are covered. Three topics related to mice models for asthmatic response are defined: methods of measurement of lung function and interpretation; factors known to change airway responsiveness without induced inflammatory response; and one factor in immunology of asthma as seen in the models, that is the role of costimulatory molecules with challenge by allergens.

Research findings indicate that disruption of the gastrin pathway in mice significanly impairs both basal and induced acid secretion as also in the histmine and acetylcholine pathway mutants. However, mice with disrupted somatostatin pathway show enhanced gastric acid secretion, suggesting negative regulatory role for somatosatin.