Sterility Associated with Abnormal Neural Tube Development in the Mouse

Abstract

Effects on growth, viability and reproduction of the pigtail-rotator gene (pr) were studied in the mouse. The mutation was inherited in a recessive manner, with a significant deficiency of homozygous recessive (pr/pr) mice present at birth. This deficiency was due to the death of embryos with incomplete closure of the neural tube. Homozygotes that survived were retarded in growth, exhibited reduced viability and did not breed. Histological study of the reproductive organs revealed that the ovaries and uteri were undersized and dystrophic. Examination of the anterior pituitary glands revealed that the cytoplasm was scant in some cells, nearly absent in others and nearly normal in the remainder and that all of the pituitary cell types appeared to be affected. The resultant effects on growth, viability and reproduction may be attributed to deficiencies of growth hormone, prolactin and gonadotropins.