Gene 3228
Summary of Phenotypic Analysis

Changes related to genotype:

• Lethality: Homozygous mice were not identified at weaning.

There were no significant differences detected in the heterozygous mutant mice when compared with age- and gender-matched wild-type control mice.

Weaned progeny from the heterozygous matings were genotyped. No homozygous mutant mice were identified by PCR, whereas wild-type and heterozygous mutant mice were present. The genotypic ratio suggested either an embryonic or perinatal lethal phenotype.

ES cells derived from the 129/OlaHsd  mouse substrain were used to generate chimeric mice. F1 mice were generated by breeding with C57BL/6 females. F2 mutant mice were produced by intercrossing F1 heterozygous males and females.

Wild-type control mice and heterozygous mutant mice were evaluated by the following examinations or tests:

• Physical examination
• Necropsy, including body length, body weight, and organ weight measurements
• Histological examination of tissues and organs
• Bone marrow section evaluation
• Complete blood counts and differential cell counts
• Clinical chemistry panels
• Densitometry 

Gene 3228
Expression Summary

Taqman Summary:
The highest levels of RNA transcripts are detectable in pituitary gland.

Moderate levels of RNA transcripts are detectable in: whole brain, cortex, subcortical region, brainstem, olfactory bulb, Harderian glands, lung, lymph nodes, skin, urinary bladder, adrenal gland, small intestine, cecum, testis, seminal vesicle, coagulating gland and ovary.

Lower levels of RNA transcripts are also detectable in: cerebellum, spinal cord, eye, heart, liver, pancreas, kidney, spleen, thymus, bone marrow, gallbladder, salivary gland, skeletal muscle, tongue, stomach, large intestine, epididymis, prostate gland and uterus.

No RNA transcripts are detectable in white fat.

LacZ Summary:
LacZ expression was detected in all organs examined.  Most striking expression was detected in the central nervous system.  Staining was observed in different tissue and cell types, including smooth, cardiac and skeletal muscle, epithelium, neurons, cartilage, adipose tissue, lymphatic tissue and blood vessels. 

LacZ expression was detected:  brain, spinal cord, sciatic nerve, eyes, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, aorta, heart, lung, liver, pancreas, kidney, urinary bladder, trachea, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, skeletal muscle, skin, testis, prostate gland, ovary, uterus and vagina.

Gene 3228
Necropsy 

There were no significant differences detected in the heterozygous mutant mice when compared with age- and gender-matched wild-type control mice.

The following mice were necropsied. Body weight, body length, and organ weights were obtained, and gross pathological findings were recorded.

49 Day Cohort Mouse ID numbers are as follows:
3 heterozygous mutant females (438697, 438699, 438701)
5 heterozygous mutant males (438700, 438705, 438708, 444084, 444095)
2 wild-type control females (436540, 438707)
2 wild-type control males (450938, 459906)

Mice were examined for the following observables: adrenal glands, body length, body weight, bone marrow, bone - cranium, bone - femur, bone - sternum, bone - stifle joint, bone - vertebral column, brain, cecum, colon, duodenum, epididymis - seminal vesicle, esophagus, eyes, gallbladder, general appearance, Harderian glands, heart, heart weight, ileum, jejunum, kidney weight, kidneys, liver, liver weight, lungs, lymph nodes, mesentery, ovaries, pancreas, penis, salivary glands, sciatic nerve, scrotum, skeletal muscle, skin, skinned mouse, spleen, spleen weight, stomach, testes, testes - epididymis weight, thymus, thymus weight, tongue, trachea, urinary bladder, urine, uterus, and vagina. (Gender-specific observables apply to the appropriate gender.)

Necropsy Findings:

There were no genotype-related or biologically significant differences noted between mutant and wild-type control mice for any of the parameters evaluated at necropsy. Incidental lesions were present in some tissues. These findings were considered to represent background lesions occasionally seen in this strain of mice, lesions due to spontaneous disease, age-related lesions, and/or lesions of a nonspecific etiology. They were not considered to be related to genotype.

Body and Organ Weight Findings:

Differences in body length, body weight, organ weights, and/or organ weight to body weight ratios were present between individual mice. The variability between mice usually fell within our historical reference ranges and was not correlated with genotype.

Gene 3228
Histopathology

There were no significant differences detected in the heterozygous mutant mice when compared with age- and gender-matched wild-type control mice.

Tissues from the following mice were evaluated histologically.

49 Day Cohort Mouse ID numbers are as follows:
3 heterozygous mutant females (438697, 438699, 438701)
5 heterozygous mutant males (438700, 438705, 438708, 444084, 444095)
2 wild-type control females (436540, 438707)
2 wild-type control males (450938, 459906)

No Significant Abnormalities:

The following tissues were examined and considered to have no genotype-related abnormality: brain, pituitary gland, ears, nasal cavity, salivary glands, oral cavity, lymph nodes, aorta, lungs, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, adrenal glands, urinary bladder, stomach, small and large intestines, larynx, esophagus, trachea, thyroid gland, thymus, tongue, skeletal muscle, sciatic nerve, mammary glands, vertebrae, spinal cord, bone (skull, sternum, femur, tibia, and stifle joint), reproductive tract (including gonads), eyes, Harderian glands, integumentary system (skin and either clitoral or preputial glands), and bone marrow.

Bone marrow was examined in sections of sternum, vertebrae, and/or femur and tibia. Marrow cellularity, myeloid:erythroid (M:E) ratio, myeloid and erythroid maturation sequences, and numbers of megakaryocytes were evaluated.

Incidental lesions were present in some tissues. These findings were considered to represent background lesions occasionally seen in this strain of mice, lesions due to spontaneous disease, age-related lesions, and/or lesions of a nonspecific etiology. They were not considered to be genotype related.

Gene 3228
Hematology

There were no significant differences in the heterozygous mutant mice when compared with age- and gender-matched wild-type control mice.

Blood samples from the following mice were evaluated by a complete blood count and differential cell count.

49 Day Cohort Mouse ID numbers are as follows:
3 heterozygous mutant females (438697, 438701, 459907)
5 heterozygous mutant males (438700, 438705, 438708, 444084, 444095)
2 wild-type control females (436540, 438707)
2 wild-type control males (450938, 459906)

Although minor variations of hematological values were present in some mice, these changes were not related to genotype and, thus, were not considered phenotypically relevant.

Gene 3228
Clinical Chemistry

There were no significant differences in the heterozygous mutant mice when compared with age- and gender-matched wild-type control mice.

Serum samples from the following mice were evaluated by a clinical chemistry panel.

49 Day Cohort Mouse ID numbers are as follows:
3 heterozygous mutant females (438697, 438701, 459905)
5 heterozygous mutant males (438700, 438705, 438708, 444084, 444095)
2 wild-type control females (436540, 438707)
2 wild-type control males (450938, 459906)

Values for the various analytes evaluated were generally similar between heterozygous mutant and wild-type control mice. Although variations in clinical chemistry values were present in some mice, they were not related to genotype and, thus, were not considered phenotypically relevant.

Gene 3228
Densitometry
 
There were no significant differences detected in the heterozygous mutant mice when compared with age- and gender-matched wild-type control mice.

The following mice were evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

49 Day Cohort Mouse ID numbers are as follows:
3 heterozygous mutant females (438697, 438699, 438701)
5 heterozygous mutant males (438700, 438705, 438708, 444084, 444095)
2 wild-type control females (436540, 438707)
2 wild-type control males (450938, 459906)

Bone Mineral Density (BMD in g/cm² ), fat % (fat percentage expressed as a percentage of body soft tissue compartment), and R-value of soft tissue were calculated from Bone Mineral Content (BMC in g), bone and tissue areas (cm² ), and total tissue mass (g) generated by a PIXImus densitometer.

Densitometric Findings:

Incidental densitometric differences were present between some mice. These findings were considered to represent background differences occasionally seen in this strain of mice, differences due to spontaneous disease, age-related differences, and/or differences of a nonspecific etiology. They were not considered to be genotype related.

Gene 3228
Physical Examination

There were no significant differences detected in the heterozygous mutant mice when compared with age- and gender-matched wild-type control mice.

The following mice were evaluated by physical examination.

49 Day Cohort Mouse ID numbers are as follows:
3 heterozygous mutant females (438697, 438699, 438701)
5 heterozygous mutant males (438700, 438705, 438708, 444084, 444095)
2 wild-type control females (436540, 438707)
2 wild-type control males (450938, 459906)

Mice were examined in detail as follows: anus, behavior, body shape, claws, coat - fur, coat color - back, coat color - belly, ear - left, ear - right, eye - left, eye - right, eye color - left, eye color - right, feces, forelimb - left, forelimb - right, forelimb number of amputated digits - left, forelimb number of amputated digits - right, forelimb number of digits - left, forelimb number of digits - right, general appearance, genitals - female, genitals - male, hair type, head shape, hindlimb - left, hindlimb - right, hindlimb number of amputated digits - left, hindlimb number of amputated digits - right, hindlimb number of digits - left, hindlimb number of digits - right, injuries, lesions, limb shape, locomotor, lumps - masses, mammary glands, mice in cage, respiration, skin appearance, snout, swelling - joints, tail, teeth color, teeth length, urine, and whiskers. (Gender-specific observables apply to the appropriate gender.)

Individual mutant mice had only occasional minor differences in observed physical features compared to wild-type control mice. These findings were considered to represent individual variability, background features occasionally seen in this strain of mice, findings due to spontaneous disease, age-related findings, and/or findings of a nonspecific etiology. However, none of these differences were regarded as biologically significant or genotype related.