mortality/aging
N |
• homozygous mice appeared generally as healthy as wildtype littermates over 2 years' observation
• almost all mutants revealed no gross tissue abnormalities upon necropsy
• exceptions were a single invasive intestinal carcinoma in a 10 month-old mouse and death due to thymic lymphoma of 2 mice aged 6.5 and 9 months
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cellular
• histological examination of epidydimes of homozygous males revealed severely diminished numbers of mature spermatozoa
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• approximately 20% of asynchronously dividing MEFs were found to have supernumerary centrosomes
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• histological examination of epidydimes of homozygous males revealed evidence of prolonged, abnormal meiosis
• numbers of metaphase I spermatocytes were elevated
• in some mice, spindle abnormalities and misaligned chromosomes were observed
• the degree of fertility impairment correlated with the severity of histologic abnormality
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• in some spermatocytes, spindle abnormalities and misaligned chromosomes were observed
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• cultured homozygous mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were retarded in their progression through mitosis, despite normal passage from G1 to S phase
• MEFs exhibited misalignment of chromosomes at the metaphase plate
• approximately 20% of asynchronously dividing MEFs were found to have supernumerary centrosomes, and approximately 12% of dividing MEFs exhibited multipolar spindles
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• approximately 12% of dividing MEFs exhibited multipolar spindles
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reproductive system
• histological examination of epidydimes of homozygous males revealed severely diminished numbers of mature spermatozoa
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• histological examination of epidydimes of homozygous males revealed evidence of prolonged, abnormal meiosis
• numbers of metaphase I spermatocytes were elevated
• in some mice, spindle abnormalities and misaligned chromosomes were observed
• the degree of fertility impairment correlated with the severity of histologic abnormality
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• in some spermatocytes, spindle abnormalities and misaligned chromosomes were observed
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• approximately 50% of homozygous male mice produced no progeny when paired with wild-type females
• fertility defect was not behavioral in origin, as mating behavior was normal and vaginal plugs were observed
• productive homozygous males sired fewer and smaller litters, on average, than did wild-type males
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