Analysis Tools
reproductive system
 N |
• at 4-6 months of age, no significant differences are observed in relative testis weight, average sperm count, testis architecture or spermatogenesis relative to wild-type or heterozygous males
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• average seminal vesicle weight is significantly reduced at 4-6 months of age
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• at 4-6 months of age, extensive areas of cells with enlarged cytoplasm are observed in the stroma, indicating a failure to transform granulosa cells into luteal tissue
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• number of corpora lutea per ovary is severely reduced at 4-6 months of age
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• large cystic follicles are commonly observed
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small ovary
(
J:168233
)
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• at 4-6 months of age, diestrus ovaries are significantly smaller than those in wild-type or heterozygous females
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• average ovary weight is significantly reduced at 4-6 months of age
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anovulation
(
J:168233
)
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• females fail to show any evidence of successful ovulation
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• % of time spent in estrus is significantly increased
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• % of time spent in metestrus is significantly decreased
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• % of time spent in proestrus is significantly decreased
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• average estrous cycle length is doubled, resulting in significantly more time spent in estrus
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• when housed singly with an age-matched C57BL/6J male mouse, only 12.5% of 8-wk-old homozygous females assessed produce a single litter of 5 pups, indicating a striking reduction in female fertility
• however, timing of vaginal opening is normal, suggesting that onset of puberty is not delayed
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• when housed singly with an age-matched C57BL/6J female mouse, 8-wk-old homozygous males produce a significantly lower number of litters during a 3-month period than wild-type or heterozygous males
• however, the number of pups per litter is not significantly altered
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homeostasis/metabolism
| N |
• at 4-6 months of age, female serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels are nearly doubled, consistent with the presence of cystic follicles; however, neither LH nor FSH basal serum levels are significantly altered relative to those in wild-type or heterozygous females and immunohistochemical analysis showed normal numbers of luteinizing hormone beta-expressing gonadotrope cells within the anterior pituitary, suggesting normal gonadotrope function
• at 4-6 months of age, a non-significant (~35%) decrease is noted in male serum LH and testosterone levels relative to wild-type or heterozygous males; however, males are able to generate a normal LH surge in response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
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• at 4-6 months of age, male serum FSH levels show a ~75% reduction relative to those in wild-type or heterozygous males
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• adult mice show a dramatic decrease in both GnRH mRNA and protein expression levels
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nervous system
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• immunostaining of the median eminence showed a marked reduction in GnRH neuron axon density
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• analysis of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) expression in the hypothalamus revealed an 89% decrease in total GnRH neuron numbers in females at 4 months of age, with a similar 84% decrease in males at 4-5 months of age
• total numbers of GnRH neurons are also significantly decreased at P1 but not at E13.5
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• immunostaining of the median eminence showed a marked reduction in GnRH neuron axon density
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• females show reduced numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons within the anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) region as well as decreased targeting to the median eminence
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growth/size/body
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• large cystic follicles are commonly observed
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endocrine/exocrine glands
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• immunostaining of the median eminence showed a marked reduction in GnRH neuron axon density
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• analysis of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) expression in the hypothalamus revealed an 89% decrease in total GnRH neuron numbers in females at 4 months of age, with a similar 84% decrease in males at 4-5 months of age
• total numbers of GnRH neurons are also significantly decreased at P1 but not at E13.5
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• average seminal vesicle weight is significantly reduced at 4-6 months of age
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• at 4-6 months of age, extensive areas of cells with enlarged cytoplasm are observed in the stroma, indicating a failure to transform granulosa cells into luteal tissue
|
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• number of corpora lutea per ovary is severely reduced at 4-6 months of age
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• large cystic follicles are commonly observed
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small ovary
(
J:168233
)
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• at 4-6 months of age, diestrus ovaries are significantly smaller than those in wild-type or heterozygous females
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• average ovary weight is significantly reduced at 4-6 months of age
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behavior/neurological
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• only 33% of females housed with a homozygous male form a visible plug after 10 days of cohabitation
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