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Impaired postnatal development in C/EBPbeta-deficient mice
Tao Bai1, Tetsuji Tanaka, Kazunori Yukawa
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wakayama Medical University, Kimi-idera, Wakayama, Japan.
Abstract:
Tail DNA genotyping of fetal and neonatal mice from C/EBPbeta heterozygous parents was performed to determine whether the decreased number of surviving C/EBPbeta mutants was caused by prenatal or postnatal death. Eighty-four 3-week-old mice born of heterozygous parents had significantly lower numbers of C/EBPbeta-deficient offspring than the expected Mendelian ratio (29.8%+/+, 65.5%+/-, 4.76%-/-, P<0.05). The genotypes of 72 fetal mice from intercrossed heterozygotes showed approximately the expected 1:2:1 Mendelian ratio (18.1% +/+, 52.8% +/-, 29.2% -/-, P>0.05). No difference in the proportions by sex could be detected in these perinates. This data indicates that C/EBPbeta-deficient mice have unknown lethal problems between the embryonic stage and weaning.
Insights
C/EBPbeta-deficient mice exhibit lethal issues between embryonic development and weaning. Genotyping revealed normal Mendelian ratios in fetuses but a significant decrease in surviving C/EBPbeta mutant offspring postnatally.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- CCAAT enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta) is a transcription factor crucial for various cellular processes.
- Heterozygous C/EBPbeta mice display altered phenotypes, necessitating an investigation into the survival of deficient offspring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if the reduced survival of C/EBPbeta-deficient mice is due to prenatal or postnatal lethality.
- To analyze the Mendelian ratios of C/EBPbeta genotypes at different developmental stages.
Main Methods:
- Tail DNA genotyping was performed on fetal and 3-week-old neonatal mice born from heterozygous C/EBPbeta parents.
- Genotype frequencies were compared to expected Mendelian ratios (1:2:1 for +/+, +/-, -/-).
Main Results:
- Neonatal mice (3 weeks old) showed a significant deficit in C/EBPbeta-deficient offspring (4.76%) compared to the expected Mendelian ratio (P<0.05).
- Fetal mice from intercrossed heterozygotes exhibited genotype proportions close to the expected Mendelian ratio (18.1% +/+, 52.8% +/-, 29.2% -/-, P>0.05).
- No sex-based differences were observed in the proportions of genotypes.
Conclusions:
- C/EBPbeta-deficient mice experience significant lethality between the embryonic stage and weaning.
- The data suggests unknown lethal factors impacting C/EBPbeta-null mice during post-embryonic development.
