cellular
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• the few oocytes released from homozygous null female mice were devoid of a cumulus cell layer
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endocrine/exocrine glands
N |
• embryo transfer experiments revealed that wild-type and homozygous null mice had similar rates of implantation at 6.5-8.5 dpc
• measurement of the circulating levels of progesterone indicated no significant differences between wild-type and homozygous null mice
• ovarian sections from implanted mutant mice demonstrated the presence of large corpora lutea; pregnancy was maintained and progesterone levels remained increased at 9.5-10.5 dpc, although the proportion of viable embryos was reduced
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growth/size/body
• homozygous null mice were viable and morphologically normal, albeit 15-20% smaller than wild-type and heterozygous littermates throughout postnatal development
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reproductive system
|
• the few oocytes released from homozygous null female mice were devoid of a cumulus cell layer
|
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• ovarian sections from superovulated immature homozygous null females revealed luteinizing follicles, with occasional hemorrhagic cysts; this phenotype was more pronounced in mature mice
|
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• analysis of the ovarian response to gonadotrophin stimulation using immature female mice indicated that >90% of follicles in mutant females retained an oocyte, although luteinized cells were present
• folliculogenesis proceeded normally and the total numbers of luteinizing follicles were similar between wid-type, heterozygous and homozygous null mice
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anovulation
(
J:74971
)
|
• after natural mating, homozygous null females failed to release oocytes at ovulation
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• homozygous null male mice had histologically normal testes and normal seminal vesicle weights and were fertile; however, the proportion of null offspring compared with the number of heterozygous mice derived from matings of homozygous null male mice with heterozygous female mice was considerably less than the expected 50%
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• mature homozygous null female mice (7-10 weeks of age) were completely infertile
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