Oncogenicity of the ret transforming gene in MMTV/ret transgenic mice.

We have successfully produced transgenic mice that carry the ret oncogene driven by a mouse mammary tumor virus promoter/enhancer. Mammary and salivary gland adenocarcinomas were developed in a stochastic fashion in these mice. Moreover, premalignant tumors with hyperplastic and dysplastic lesions of Harderian glands and male reproductive tracts frequently occurred at young ages. High expression of the transgene was closely associated with the development of these tumors although the levels of the transgene expression were variable among individuals. In addition, large amounts of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins were detected in cell lysates from mammary and salivary adenocarcinomas by immunoblotting with the anti-phosphotyrosine antibody.