mortality/aging
• homozygous mutant mice developed normally through embryogenesis; however, 70% of homozygous neonates died from fatal intra-abdominal bleeding within 24 hours after birth
• most of the remaining neonates died from intracranial hemorrhage before the age of 24 days
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cardiovascular system
N |
• all homozygous mutant embryos displayed normal vascular development at all embryonic stages examined: no vascular fragility was observed in the yolk sac or in the embryo itself
• homozygous mutant mice displayed normal blood vessel formation, as shown by intact von Willebrand Factor immunoreactive endothelium and numerous alpha-actin-positive smooth muscle cells
• other components of the intrinsic or extrinsic coagulation cascade appeared normal
• maternal-fetal transfer could only be detected after E9.5 and at supraphysiological maternal plasma levels
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• hematoxylin/eosin staining of abdominal sections revealed extensive extravasation of red blood cells into the peritoneal cavity, with concomitant anemia in the surrounding organs
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