Biology of Reproduction, Vol 23, 538-544, Copyright © 1980 by Society for the Study of Reproduction

Sterility Associated with Abnormal Neural Tube Development in the Mouse

¹ Department of Zoology and Entomology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523

Effects on growth, viability, and reproduction of the "pigtail-rotator" gene (pr) were studied in the mouse. The mutation was found to be 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.