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Hairlessness does not influence growth retardation in nude mice. Computer image analysis study
1Department of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Praha.
Folia Biologica
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Athymic nude mice (nu/nu) exhibit altered bone ossification, including thinner growth plates and lower tail vertebrae density compared to their euthymic counterparts. These changes are linked to immunological or endocrinological differences, not hairlessness.
Area of Science:
- Skeletal Biology
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Postnatal ossification is crucial for skeletal development.
- Athymic nude mice (nu/nu) are commonly used models, but their physiological differences require characterization.
- Hairlessness in BFU mice provides a control for non-immunological factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare postnatal ossification in athymic nude (nu/nu) mice versus euthymic (nu/+ and BFU) mice.
- To determine if hairlessness or other factors contribute to observed ossification differences in nude mice.
Main Methods:
- X-ray analysis of ossification.
- Computer image analysis (CUE 4 Olympus) to measure proximal tibial growth plate thickness.
- Comparison of BALB/c and BFU mouse strains.
Main Results:
- Athymic nu/nu mice showed significantly thinner proximal tibial growth plates compared to nu/+ and BFU mice.
- Higher X-ray density was observed in tail vertebrae of nu/+ and BFU mice than in nu/nu mice.
- No significant ossification differences were found between nu/+ and BFU mice.
Conclusions:
- Altered postnatal ossification in athymic nude mice is not due to hairlessness.
- Immunological or endocrinological differences likely underlie the observed skeletal variations in nude mice.