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Mutagenesis as an unbiased approach to identify novel contraceptive targets.

To accommodate diverse personal needs in family planning, diverse contraceptive approaches are desirable. This goal requires identification of new contraceptive targets. Phenotype-driven mutagenesis is an unbiased approach to identify novel genes and functions in reproductive processes. The ReproGenomics Program at The Jackson Laboratory is a United States National Institutes of Health resource for production, identification and distribution of mutant mouse models of infertility that can be used for identification of potential targets for contraception. The strategy of this program is whole genome, random ENU mutagenesis, coupled with a phenotype screen for breeding failure as the only phenotype. A three-generation breeding scheme selects recessive mutations affecting reproductive functions. G3 males and females that fail to reproduce by natural mating to wild-type animals undergo secondary phenotype screens to assess gonad and accessory organ histology, hormone production, gamete production and gamete function in fertilization. The genetic transmission of the infertility trait in each family is confirmed and each mutation is genetically mapped to a defined chromosome region, facilitating identification of candidate genes from sequence and expression databases. Genes essential for fertility in both males and females and acting both meiotically and post-meiotically have been identified by this strategy. Phenotypes include male infertility with normal sperm count, but failure in fertilization of oocytes. Phenotype descriptions of each mutation are posted on the program website, . These unique reproductive mutant mouse resources will lead to new discoveries in andrology (and gynecology) research, as well as reproductive medicine. Dissection of gene function in known and newly discovered reproductive pathways will expand our focus to reveal novel targets for contraception.

Alkylating Agents↗

Asebia-2J (Scd1(ab2J)): a new allele and a model for scarring alopecia.

A spontaneous, autosomal, recessive mouse mutation exhibiting mild scaly skin, progressive scarring alopecia, slightly runted growth, and photophobia arose at The Jackson Laboratory in 1993 in the inbred mouse strain DBA/1LacJ. Because this mutant mouse showed genetic, anatomical, and laboratory similarities to the asebia mutation, crosses were done between the new mutant and mice carrying the asebia-J allele. Because the F1 offspring were affected, indicating the two mutants were allelic, the new mutation was named asebia-2J. Careful histological analysis of skin development of mice homozygous and heterozygous for either asebia-J or asebia-2J revealed that both types of mutant mice are very similar regardless of their background. Notable histopathological features of mice homozygous for either allele included extreme sebaceous gland hypoplasia, abnormally long anagen follicles, retained inner root sheath, hair fiber perforation of the anagen follicle base, and progressive follicular replacement by scarring. In this article we present a new pathogenetic hypothesis based on the importance of the sebaceous gland in hair fiber sheath dissociation: in the absence of a functional sebaceous gland the hair follicle is destroyed. The cutaneous pathology of this mutant mouse underscores the importance of the sebaceous gland to follicular biology and presents an animal model for studying the human scarring alopecias, which characteristically begin with sebaceous gland ablation.

Alleles↗

Neuronal and glial pathological changes during epileptogenesis in the mouse pilocarpine model.

The rodent pilocarpine model of epilepsy exhibits hippocampal sclerosis and spontaneous seizures and thus resembles human temporal lobe epilepsy. Use of the many available mouse mutants to study this epilepsy model would benefit from a detailed neuropathology study. To identify new features of epileptogenesis, we characterized glial and neuronal pathologies after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) in CF1 and C57BL/6 mice focusing on the hippocampus. All CF1 mice showed spontaneous seizures by 17-27 days after SE. By 6 h there was virtually complete loss of hilar neurons, but the extent of pyramidal cell death varied considerably among mice. In the mossy fiber pathway, neuropeptide Y (NPY) was persistently upregulated beginning 1 day after SE; NPY immunoreactivity in the supragranular layer after 31 days indicated mossy fiber sprouting. beta2 microglobulin-positive activated microglia, normally absent in brains without SE, became abundant over 3-31 days in regions of neuronal loss, including the hippocampus and the amygdala. Astrogliosis developed after 10 days in damaged areas. Amyloid precursor protein immunoreactivity in the thalamus at 10 days suggested delayed axonal degeneration. The mortality after pilocarpine injection was very high in C57BL/6 mice from Jackson Laboratories but not those from Charles River, suggesting that mutant mice in the C57BL/6(JAX) strain will be difficult to study in the pilocarpine model, although their neuropathology was similar to CF1 mice. Major neuropathological changes not previously studied in the rodent pilocarpine model include widespread microglial activation, delayed thalamic axonal death, and persistent NPY upregulation in mossy fibers, together revealing extensive and persistent glial as well as neuronal pathology.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗

Tumor necrosis factor promotes differential trafficking of bladder mast cells in neurogenic cystitis.

PURPOSE: IC is often considered neurogenic cystitis, in which mast cells are involved in a positive feedback loop that results in sustained urothelial inflammation. To characterize these processes we developed a murine model of neurogenic cystitis using Bartha's strain of PRV based on a similar model in the rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female C57BL/6 mice (National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland) were used in the study. Neurogenic cystitis was induced by the injection of Bartha's strain of PRV (2.2 x 10 pfu) into the abductor caudalis dorsalis tail base muscle. Bladder inflammation was assessed by leukocyte influx and Evans blue dye extravasation. Mast cells were visualized in bladder tissue by staining with 0.1% toluidine blue. RESULTS: Inoculation with PRV in the abductor caudalis dorsalis resulted in cystitis within 3 days. Coincident with the induction of cystitis mast cells accumulated in the lamina propria due to mast cell trafficking from the proximal detrusor (relative to the lumen), whereas mast cells from the distal detrusor were unchanged and total mast cell counts were not increased. Degranulated mast cells increased approximately 20-fold in the lamina propria of infected mice relative to controls. In TNF receptor 1/2 deficient mice (Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine) mast cell trafficking was not observed in response to PRV and mast cells were not degranulated. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that neurogenic cystitis is associated with the differential trafficking and activation of distinct mast cell pools in the bladder. Since TNF mediates these events, anti-TNF therapy may mitigate the pathogenesis of neurogenic cystitis.

Animals↗

Human umbilical cord blood effect on sod mice (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

In previous studies we observed that human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) could have a protective effect on the onset of disease and time of death in MRL Lpr/Lpr mice which have an autoimmune disease that may be considered similar to human lupus. We believed a temporary xenograph may have occurred in these animals with the disease process delayed and the life span markedly increased. When HUCB is stored at 4 degrees C in gas permeable bags, there is a decrease of the cell reaction in mixed lymphocyte cultures. The blood, however, maintains a significant number of cells capable of producing replatable colonies. This study attempted to determine the effect of HUCB on SOD1 mice (transgenic B6SJL-TgN(SOD1-G93A)1GUR), which have a mutation of the human transgene, (CuZn superoxide dismutase gene SOD1) that has been associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We previously developed evidence that the survival of lethally irradiated mice was related to the number of human mononuclear cells administered. In the present study, we decided to investigate the effect of a relatively large dose of human mononuclear cord blood cells on SOD1 mice subjected to a sublethal dose of irradiation preceded by antikiller sera (rabbit anti-asialo). The SOD1 mice show evidence of paralysis at 4 to 5 months. The average expected lifetime of these mice is reported to be 130 days (Jackson Laboratory). In this experiment, there were 23 mice. Two mice died before the onset of paralysis. The remainder were divided into three groups: group I: control group of 4 untreated mice; group II: an experimental group of 6 mice treated with antikiller sera, 800 cGy irradiation plus 5 x 10(6) congenic bone marrow mononuclear cells; group III: another experimental group of 11 mice treated with antikiller sera, 800 cGy irradiation plus 34.2-35.6 x 10(6) HUCB mononuclear cells, previously stored for 17-20 days at 4 degrees C in gas permeable bags. The results were as follows: the average age at death was: (I) 127 days for the untreated control group, (II) 138 days for the group that received 800 cGy of irradiation and congenic bone marrow (BM) and (III) 148 days for the group that received irradiation and HUCB. (P < 0.001 HUCB vs control, p < 0.01 HUCB vs BM). The longest surviving mouse in each group was 131, 153, and 182 days old respectively. In summary, large doses of HUCB mononuclear cells produced considerable delay in the onset of symptoms and death of SOD1 mice. These preliminary results may not only indicate that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, but may also indicate a possible treatment for a devastating disease and possibly others.

Adoptive Transfer↗

Chemoprevention of colon cancer by Korean food plant components.

Inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS/NOS-2) play pivotal roles as mediators of inflammation involved in early steps of carcinogenesis in certain organs. Therefore, chemoprevention is theoretically possible through inhibition of COX-2 and/or iNOS. In the present study, we examined the chemopreventive effects of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a constituent of cruciferous vegetables (the family of Cruciferae) such as cabbages, cauliflowers and broccoli on the multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min) genetic mouse model, and on mouse colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane (AOM). The consumption of cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts has been shown to have cancer chemopreventive effects in humans and experimental animals. I3C has been shown to exert a cancer chemopreventive influence in liver, colon, and mammary tissue when given before or concurrent with exposure to a carcinogen. Powdered AIN-76A diets (Harlan Teklad Research Diet, Madison, USA) containing 100 or 300 ppm I3C (group 1 or 2) or the same pellet diets without supplement (group 3) were fed to 6-week-old male C57BL/6J-Apc(Min)(/+) (Min/+) mice (The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA) for 10 weeks. In addition the same diets were given to wild-type normal C57BL/6J-Apc(Min)(/+) littermates after AOM initiation (groups 4-7: 10 mice in each group) for 32 weeks from week 4. At 16 weeks of age, all Min/+ mice (groups 1-3) were sacrificed for assessment of intestinal polyp development. The incidences of the colonic adenomatous polyps in the groups 1-3 were 60% (12/20), 60% (15/25) and 84% (21/25), respectively. A decreasing tendency in multiplicities of the colonic adenomatous polyps in group 1 (I3C 100 ppm; 0.85 +/- 0.22; 61%) and group 2 (I3C 300 ppm; 1.32 +/- 0.28; 94%) was observed when compared with group 3 (control; 1.40 +/- 0.21; 100%). Total number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF)/colon or aberrant crypts (AC)/colon in wild-type mice of group 4 or 5 were decreased significantly compared with those of the AOM alone group (group 6) (P < 0.01). These results suggest that I3C may be a potential chemopreventive agent for colon cancer.

Animals↗

Transgenic and knockout databases: behavioral profiles of mouse mutants.

Genetically engineered strains of mice, modified by transgenesis or gene targeting ("knockouts") are being generated at an impressive rate and used, among other areas, as premiere research tools in deciphering the genetic basis of behavior. As behavioral phenotyping strategies continue to evolve, characterization of these "designer" mice will provide models to evaluate the efficacy of new pharmacological and gene therapy treatments in human hereditary diseases. Reported behavioral profiles include aberrant social, reproductive, and parental behaviors, learning and memory deficits, feeding disorders, aggression, anxiety-related behaviors, pain/analgesia, and altered responses to antidepressants, antipsychotics, ethanol, and psychostimulant drugs of abuse. The Induced Mutant Resource (IMR) at The Jackson Laboratory (TJL, Bar Harbor, ME, USA) imports, cryopreserves, develops, maintains, and distributes biomedically important stocks of transgenic and targeted mutant mice to the research community. Information on neurological/behavioral strains--including behavioral performance, husbandry requirements, strain availability, and genetic typing protocols--is provided through the IMR database (http://www.jax.org/resources/documents/imr/). A catalog of available strains is readily accessible via the JAX Mice website at http://jaxmice.jax.org/index.shtml. In addition, TJL is now host to TBASE (http://tbase.jax.org/), a comprehensive, public-domain database with primary emphasis on mouse knockouts. TBASE contains an exhaustive list of knockout-related citations and provides an extensive phenotypic characterization of numerous behavioral mutants that is extracted directly from the literature. Present efforts to merge the two resources into a novel, schematically enhanced database, provisionally named Transgenic and Targeted Mutation Database (TTMD), will be briefly discussed.

Animals↗

Retinal degeneration mutants in the mouse.

The Jackson Laboratory, having the world's largest collection of mouse mutant stocks and genetically diverse inbred strains, is an ideal place to look for genetically determined eye variations and disorders. Through ophthalmoscopy, electroretinography and histology, we have discovered disorders affecting all aspects of the eye including the lid, cornea, iris, lens and retina, resulting in corneal disorders, cataracts, glaucoma and retinal degenerations. Mouse models of retinal degeneration have been investigated for many years in the hope of understanding the causes of photoreceptor cell death. Sixteen naturally occurring mouse mutants that manifest degeneration of photoreceptors in the retina with preservation of all other retinal cell types have been found: retinal degeneration (formerly rd, identical with rodless retina, r, now Pde6b(rd1)); Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd); nervous (nr); retinal degeneration slow (rds, now Prph(Rd2)); retinal degeneration 3 (rd3); motor neuron degeneration (mnd); retinal degeneration 4 (Rd4); retinal degeneration 5 (rd5, now tub); vitiligo (vit, now Mitf(mi-vit)); retinal degeneration 6 (rd6); retinal degeneration 7 (rd7, now Nr2e3(rd7)); neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (nclf); retinal degeneration 8 (rd8); retinal degeneration 9 (Rd9); retinal degeneration 10 (rd10, now Pde6b(rd10)); and cone photoreceptor function loss (cpfl1). In this report, we first review the genotypes and phenotypes of these mutants and second, list the mouse strains that carry each mutation. We will also provide detailed information about the cpfl1 mutation. The phenotypic characteristics of cpfl1 mice are similar to those observed in patients with complete achromatopsia (ACHM2, OMIM 216900) and the cpfl1 mutation is the first naturally-arising mutation in mice to cause cone-specific photoreceptor function loss. cpfl1 mice may provide a model for congenital achromatopsia in humans.

Animals↗

It's a knockout! Male infertility and neuropathology.

An increasing number of genetically engineered animals are produced worldwide for use in both basic and applied research. Here, I provide an update of some of the latest mouse knockouts in The Jackson Laboratory Transgenic/Targeted Mutation Database (TBASE), concentrating on those associated with male infertility and neuropathology.

Animals↗

Senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM): a biogerontological resource in aging research.

The senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM), consisting of 14 senescence-prone inbred strains (SAMP) and 4 senescence-resistant inbred strains (SAMR) has been under development since 1970 through the selective inbreeding of AKR/J strain mice donated by the Jackson laboratory in 1968, based on the data of the grading score of senescence, life span, and pathologic phenotypes. The characteristic feature of aging common to all SAMP and SAMR mice is accelerated senescence and normal aging, respectively. Furthermore, SAMP and SAMR strains manifest various pathobiological phenotypes which include such neurobiological phenotypes as deficits in learning and memory, emotional disorders, abnormal circadian rhythms, brain atrophy, hearing impairment, etc., and are often characteristic enough to differentiate the strains. Various efforts are currently being made using the SAM model to clarify the underlying mechanisms in accelerated senescence as well as the etiopathogenic mechanisms in age-associated pathobiologies. Genetic background and significance of SAM development are discussed.

Aging↗

cDNA cloning, mapping and expression of the mouse propionyl CoA carboxylase beta (pccb), the gene for human type II propionic acidaemia.

Propionyl CoA carboxylase (PCC) is a mitochondrial, biotin-dependent enzyme involved in the catabolism of amino acids, odd-chained fatty acids and other metabolites. PCC is composed of two equal subunits, alpha and beta, which are encoded by two separate genes at two distinct human loci. Mutations of either gene in humans results in propionic acidemia (PA). To identify the mouse cDNA for the propionyl CoA carboxylase beta-subunit (pccb), we have screened the mouse EST database using the human sequence. The murine mRNA transcript is approximately 2.3 kb, nearly 500 bps larger than the human approximately 1.8 kb transcript. A PAC genomic DNA clone from the mouse was also isolated and used to generate probes and PCR primers for mapping the pccb locus in the mouse. Both the C57Bl/6JEi and Spret/Ei alleles for regions flanking the pccb gene were sequenced to identify RFLPs. The Jackson Laboratory BSS and BSB backcross panel DNAs were then analyzed using a DdeI polymorphism placing the pccb locus on mouse chromosome 9. Northern blots of adult tissue show that the pccb gene is broadly expressed in the mouse. The approximately 2.3 kb transcript is most abundantly expressed in the kidney, liver, small intestine and stomach tissues.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

A novel mouse kinesin of the UNC-104/KIF1 subfamily encoded by the Kif1b gene.

Kinesin and kinesin-related proteins are microtubule-dependent motor proteins that transport organelles. We have cloned and sequenced a full-length 9924 bp mouse cDNA for a new kinesin of the UNC-104/KIF1 subfamily. Northern blot analysis of mouse RNAs detected high levels of a 10 kb mRNA in brain and eye, but lower levels in other tissues. Human RNA dot-blot analysis detected this mRNA in all tissues examined, although at different levels. The overall structure of the new kinesin (predicted size 204 kDa) was most similar to mouse KIF1A; however, 2.1 kb of the 5' portion of the cDNA were identical to the published sequence for KIF1B (Nangaku, M., Sato-Yoshitake, R., Okada, Y., Noda, Y., Takemura, R., Yamazaki, H., Hirokawa, N., 1994. KIF1B, a novel microtubule plus end-directed monomeric motor protein for transport of mitochondria. Cell 79, 1209-1220). We localized the Kif1b gene to the distal end of mouse Chromosome 4 by haplotype analysis of an interspecific backcross from The Jackson Laboratory. We had previously mapped the gene for the novel kinesin to the same location (Gong, T.-W.L., Burmeister, M., Lomax, M.I., 1996b. The novel gene D4Mille maps to mouse Chromosome 4 and human Chromosome 1p36. Mamm. Genome 7, 790-791). We conclude, therefore, that the Kif1b gene generates two major kinesin isoforms by alternative splicing. The shorter 7.8 kb mRNA encodes a 130 kDa kinesin, KIF1Bp130, whereas the 10 kb mRNA encodes a 204 kDa kinesin, KIF1Bp204. In addition, alternative splicing of two exons in the conserved region adjacent to the motor domain generates four different isoforms of each kinesin, leading to eight kinesin isoforms derived from the Kif1b gene.

Alternative Splicing↗

Assessment of hearing in 80 inbred strains of mice by ABR threshold analyses.

The common occurrence of hearing loss in both humans and mice, and the anatomical and functional similarities of their inner ears, attest to the potential of mice being used as models to study inherited hearing loss. A large-scale, auditory screening project is being undertaken at The Jackson Laboratory (TJL) to identify mice with inherited hearing disorders. To assess hearing sensitivity, at least five mice from each inbred strain had auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds determined. Thus far, we have screened 80 inbred strains of mice; 60 of them exhibited homogeneous ABR threshold values not significantly different from those of the control strain CBA/CaJ. This large database establishes a reliable reference for normal hearing mouse strains. The following 16 inbred strains exhibited significantly elevated ABR thresholds before the age of 3 months: 129/J, 129/ReJ, 129/SvJ, A/J, ALR/LtJ, ALS/LtJ, BUB/BnJ, C57BLKS/J, C57BR/cdJ, C57L/J, DBA/2J, I/LnJ, MA/MyJ, NOD/LtJ, NOR/LtJ, and SKH2/J. These hearing impaired strains may serve as models for some forms of human non-syndromic hearing loss and aid in the identification of the underlying genes.

Alleles↗

Senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM): a novel murine model of senescence.

The Senescence-Accelerated Mouse (SAM) has been under development by our research team at Kyoto University since 1970 through the selective inbreeding of the AKR/J strain of mice donated by the Jackson Laboratory in 1968, based on a graded score for senescence, life span, and pathologic phenotype. At present, there are 12 lines of SAM: nine senescence-prone inbred strains (SAMP) including SAMP1, SAMP2, SAMP3, SAMP6, SAMP7, SAMP8, SAMP9, SAMP10, and SAMP11; and three senescence-resistant inbred strains (SAMR) including SAMR1, SAMR4, and SAMR5. Data from survival curves, Gompertzian function, and grading score of senescence, together with growth patterns of body weight of these SAMP and SAMR, revealed that the characteristic feature of aging common to all SAMP mice is "accelerated senescence;" early onset and irreversible advance of senescence manifested by several signs and gross lesions such as the loss of normal behavior, various skin lesions, increased lordokyphosis, etc., after a period of normal development. In the course of SAM development, it became evident that SAMP strains manifest various pathologic phenotypes that are characteristic enough to differentiate the SAM strains. The genetic background and significance of SAM development are discussed.

Aging↗

Mouse Wnt9b transforming activity, tissue-specific expression, and evolution.

The members of the Wnt family of secreted factors have oncogenic potential and important roles as developmental regulators. We report an analysis of mouse Wnt9b (also called Wnt15 and Wnt14b), including its cDNA sequence, chromosomal mapping, epithelial cell transforming activity, adult and embryonic tissue expression patterns, and evolution. We also deduced the full-length amino acid sequence of its close relative, Wnt9a (also called Wnt14), from unannotated genomic DNA sequences in GenBank. Full-length comparisons among Wnt amino acid sequences provide evidence that Wnt9b and Wnt9a are close paralogs of each other and are orthologs of Wnt9 genes from shark and hagfish. Mapping Wnt9b to The Jackson Laboratory BSS interspecific backcross panel places it at 63.0 cM on chromosome 11. Sequence comparisons of two pairs of linked Wnt genes (the Wnt9a-Wnt3a pair and the Wnt9b-Wnt3 pair) suggest that they arose from the relatively recent duplication of a single ancestral Wnt gene pair, confirming the close paralogous relationship of Wnt9a and Wnt9b. Wnt9b expression is primarily restricted to the kidney in the adult mouse, with lower levels detected in the preputial gland, liver, and mammary gland. Testing of staged whole mouse embryos from 9.5 to 17.5 days of gestation showed expression at all stages with a peak at day 10.5. In situ hybridization analysis showed expression in most but not all tissues of the 16.5-day embryo. No significant elevation of Wnt9b expression was detected in 29 mouse mammary tumor virus-induced tumors. Overexpression of Wnt9b in C57MG mammary epithelial cells caused small transformed foci in cell monolayers and a moderate morphological transformation in pooled colonies compared with Wnt1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Novel mutations in an otherwise strictly conserved domain of CuZn superoxide dismutase.

All mutations in the human gene for CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) reported to date are associated with the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These mutations, mostly of a familial nature (ALS 1, MIM 105400), span all of the coding region of this enzyme except for a highly conserved centrally located domain that includes all of exon III. We describe the identification and characterization of two mutations in this region, both found in mice. One mutation, a glutamate to lysine amino acid substitution was found in position 77 (E77K) of the strain SOD1/Ei distributed by the Jackson Laboratory. The other mutation, a lysine to glutamate substitution at position 70 (K70E) of a human transgene, was discovered in mouse line TgHS/SF-155. Enzyme activity measurements and heterodimer analysis of the CuZn SOD variant in SOD1/Ei suggest a mild loss of activity, which differs from the enzyme activity losses detected in patients with autosomal dominant ALS 1. Similarly, the presence of the mutant transgene in TgHS/SF 155 does not produce any phenotypic manifestations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Rules and guidelines for genetic nomenclature in mice: excerpted version. Committee on Standardized Genetic Nomenclature for Mice.

The unique identification of genes and mouse strains is critical to their identification in research and in the scientific literature. Rules for genetic nomenclature in mice have existed since the 1940s. The latest complete revision of the rules was approved by the International Committee on Standardized Genetic Nomenclature for Mice in November, 1993. Minor revisions have occurred since. The complete, current rules are available on-line from The Jackson Laboratory's Mouse Genome Database (MGD), URL: http:(+)+www.informatics.jax.org. A printed version appeared in Mouse Genome 92 (2), June, 1994, and in Genetic Variants and Strains of the Laboratory Mouse, 3rd edition (Committee on Standardized Genetic Nomenclature for Mice, 1996a,b,c). The excerpted version below gives the general guidelines for naming and symbolizing mouse genes, transgenes and transgenic strains, targeted mutations and DNA markers. More detailed guidelines, including revisions as they are made, may be found at the MGD Web site given above. Subparagraphs are numbered as in the complete guidelines so that the user can refer easily from this excerpted version to the full text. Textual references to paragraphs not included here may be found in the full text as well.

Animals↗

Lanceolate hair-J (lahJ): a mouse model for human hair disorders.

Lanceolate hair-J (lahJ) arose spontaneously in 1994 on the DBA/1LacJ inbred background at The Jackson Laboratory. Mutant mice were runted, alopecic, and lacked vibrissae. As they aged, their skin wrinkled. Affected mice developed a noninflammatory, proliferative skin disease with follicular dystrophy. Hair fibers developed a number of abnormalities including periodic nodules along the shaft (trichorrhexis nodosa), compaction resembling trichorrhexis invaginata, spiral fractures, broken tips, and lance-shaped tips. This mutation exhibits some characteristics that resemble an autosomal recessive ichthyosiform disease that occurs in humans characterized in part by peculiar, invaginating, multinodal, hair shaft abnormalities known as Netherton's syndrome. Periodic nodules also resemble the human genetic based disease monilethrix. This autosomal recessive mouse mutation, allelic with lanceolate hair (lah), based on breeding studies, is located on mouse Chromosome 18, within a cluster of genes coding for adhesion molecules. Homozygotes for either of these allelic mouse mutations have elevated serum IgE levels, a feature also common with human Netherton's syndrome.

Alleles↗