Phenotypes Associated with This Genotype

Genotype
MGI:2654856

• Allelic Composition: Zeb1^Tw/Zeb1⁺
• Genetic Background: STOCK PCS

• ♀: phenotype observed in females
• ♂: phenotype observed in males
• N: normal phenotype

behavior/neurological

increased aggression towards male mice ( J:274 )

• when allowed to grow up together, 2-month old male heterozygotes often begin to fight to such an extent that they must be either separated or sacrificed

abnormal postural reflex ( J:274 )

• when lifted by the tail, heterozygotes flex their back, tuck their head under, and draw their limbs backwards

• in response to a downward falling movement, heterozygotes fail to thrust their forelimbs forward, indicating absence of a landing reaction

head bobbing ( J:274 )

• heterozygotes display vertical head shaking less often than horizontal head shaking

head shaking ( J:274 )

• heterozygotes display head shaking in a horizontal plane, often combined with circling

circling ( J:274 )

• heterozygotes often exhibit circling combined with horizontal head shaking

abnormal parental behavior ( J:274 )

• some heterozygous parents of both sexes are prone to attacking and killing their young during the first week of life, esp. after being stressed in some way

hearing/vestibular/ear

hearing/vestibular/ear phenotype ( J:274 )

N • heterozygotes are not deaf and generally display a normal cochlea

abnormal scala media morphology ( J:274 )

• 2 of 9 heterozygotes displayed abnormal cochlear duct morphology

• in one of these 2 heterozygotes, the left cochlear duct was normal but the right was hydropic, the organ of Corti was disorganized, and the stria vascularis was missing

• in the other, both cochlear ducts were affected, the apical region was hydropic, the organ of Corti was abnormal, and the stria vascularis was missing form the right ear

abnormal inner ear canal morphology ( J:274 )

• heterozygotes show a highly variable reduction or absence of the horizontal canal along with absence of otoliths and uneven contours of the vertical canals

decreased lateral semicircular canal size ( J:274 )

• at the very least, the horizontal canal is present and only slightly decreased in length, while the otolith number is sometimes reduced

• however, the horizontal canal and ampulla are never entirely absent

abnormal posterior semicircular canal morphology ( J:274 )

• at the very least, the posterior vertical canal displays an abnormal contour

• the uneveness of outline progresses to formation of projections from the walls of the canal

• in severe cases, these projections form branches or duplications running from the canal to the utriculus or the common crus

abnormal semicircular canal ampulla morphology ( J:274 )

• the horizontal ampulla is located more posteriorly than in normal mice

abnormal crista ampullaris morphology ( J:274 )

• the horizontal crista is always abnormal in shape and lies lateral to rather than anterior to the utricle macula

• in contrast, the ampullae and cristae of the vertical canals are normal

abnormal crista ampullaris neuroepithelium morphology ( J:274 )

• the epithelium forming the horizontal crista is folded inwards rather than upwards, forming a pit instead of a ridge in the ventromedial part of the ampulla

abnormal superior semicircular canal morphology ( J:274 )

• at the very least, the anterior vertical canal displays an abnormal contour

• the uneveness of outline progresses to formation of projections from the walls of the canal

• in severe cases, these projections form branches or duplications running from the canal to the utriculus or the common crus

• the arcuate fossa may be variably obliterated by branches from the anterior vertical canal

dilated endolymphatic duct ( J:274 )

• in some ears, the lumen of the endolymphatic ducts is sligtly dilated, suggesting some excess of endolymphatic fluid

abnormal otolith morphology ( J:274 )

• when present, otoliths are often thinner than normal

decreased otolith number ( J:274 )

• a reduction in otolith number is sometimes observed along with a slightly reduced lateral canal

absent otoliths ( J:274 )

• complete loss of otoliths is associated with severe reduction of the lateral canal and increasingly shortened and branched vertical canals

• 9 of 18 heterozygous ears lack both saccular and utricular otoliths, 7 show a normal saccular otolith with a thin utricular otolith in 3 cases, and the remaining 2 ears show a thin saccular otolith only

growth/size/body

increased susceptibility to age related obesity ( J:274 )

• starting at 3 months of age, adult heterozygotes display a tendency to become obese

• however, some heterozygotes exhibit a normal breeding life and remain slim

postnatal growth retardation ( J:274 )

• a few heterozygotes lag behind their wild-type littermates in growth

• however, the growth of young heterozygotes is usually normal

adipose tissue

increased total body fat amount ( J:274 )

• obese heterozygotes display increased deposition of subcutaneous fat in the inguinal and neck regions and between the shoulder blades

abnormal abdominal fat pad morphology ( J:274 )

• obese heterozygotes display increased abdominal fat deposition in the mesentery and around the kidneys, ovaries, and testes

abnormal inguinal fat pad morphology ( J:274 )

• obese heterozygotes display increased deposition of subcutaneous fat in the inguinal region

reproductive system

infertility ( J:274 )

• both sexes are fertile but become sterile if obesity sets in