mortality/aging
• most homozygotes die between P7 and P14; only about 10% survive to adulthood
|
growth/size/body
• as early as P6, homozygotes display abnormally rounded, brittle filiform papillae that shatter during usage; broken pieces of filiform papillae are often found on the tongue surface
• in contrast, fungiform papillae appear normal and the overall shape of the tongue is unaffected
|
weight loss
(
J:45400
)
• newborn homozygotes exhibit progressive weight loss relative to wild-type littermates
• however, homozygotes that survive >2 weeks are fertile, healthy, and slowly approach the weight of wild-type siblings after weaning
|
digestive/alimentary system
• as early as P6, homozygotes display abnormally rounded, brittle filiform papillae that shatter during usage; broken pieces of filiform papillae are often found on the tongue surface
• in contrast, fungiform papillae appear normal and the overall shape of the tongue is unaffected
|
skeleton
• adult homozygotes have no appendicular skeleton defects but show an increased number of caudal vertebrae with lateral processes
|
• adult homozygotes display 10-13 caudal vertebrae with lateral processes whereas wild-type mice have only 4-5; however, no increase in the total number of caudal vertebrae is observed, suggesting a true homeotic transformation
|
limbs/digits/tail
• adult homozygotes display 10-13 caudal vertebrae with lateral processes whereas wild-type mice have only 4-5; however, no increase in the total number of caudal vertebrae is observed, suggesting a true homeotic transformation
|
hairless tail
(
J:45400
)
• adult homozygotes lack tail hairs; however, tail scales appear grossly unaffected
|
behavior/neurological
• newborn homozygotes exhibit progressive weakness relative to wild-type littermates
|
vision/eye
• adult homozygotes show absence of cilia (eyelashes)
|
craniofacial
• as early as P6, homozygotes display abnormally rounded, brittle filiform papillae that shatter during usage; broken pieces of filiform papillae are often found on the tongue surface
• in contrast, fungiform papillae appear normal and the overall shape of the tongue is unaffected
|
integument
• in rare cases, hair can be found protruding from the epidermis in protected regions (e.g. along the lower limbs)
• occasionally, in-grown hairs are observed within the epidermis
|
• adult homozygotes exhibit an absence of all pelage (or coat) hair types as well as tail and peri-anal hairs; all hair types are apparently affected
|
• adult homozygotes show absence of cilia (eyelashes)
|
brittle hair
(
J:45400
)
• adult homozygotes have brittle hair; pelage hair forms but is fractured at the skin surface resulting in alopecia
|
• adult homozygotes display misshapen, flatter nails instead of normal talon-shaped nails
• mutant nails are often overgrown forming long spirals
|
• newborn homozygotes lack vibrissae at birth
|