mortality/aging
• homozygotes develop normally until E6.5 but die between E8.5 and E10
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cellular
• at E6.5, mutant embryos display severe reductions in cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity; the immunoreactivity of other COX subunits remains unaffected
• reduced CCO activity in embryonic and extraembryonic tissues is also observed at later stages of development
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embryo
• at E7.5, mutant embryos appear severely retarded and more fragile upon dissection of the decidua
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• at E8.5, the mutant embryonic region is smaller than the extraembryonic region, and the embryonic cavity is severely reduced
• at E8.5, many embryonic cells appear small and atrophic relative to wild-type; the presence of condensed nuclei suggests apoptosis
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homeostasis/metabolism
N |
• at E6.5, homozygotes exhibit normal succinate dehydrogenase activity as well as normal lactate dehydrogenase activity, suggesting normal glycolysis
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