The production of transgenic pigs for potential use in clinical xenotransplantation: baseline clinical pathology and organ size studies.

This report describes the results of hematology, serum biochemistry, growth, and organ weight studies undertaken on pigs from nine cohorts of qualified pathogen free (QPF) pigs reared within a high welfare bioexclusion facility as potential organ source animals. Confirmation of the high health status of the pigs was given through total leukocyte counts and serum globulin concentrations that fell below the expected reference range for conventional pigs. The calculated mean growth rate for QPF pigs was found to exceed target rates set for optimum genotype commercial pig herds. Body weights of QPF pigs were compared with kidney, heart and liver weights at necropsy.