Kit无义突变致W~(-3Bao)小鼠生殖腺异常及纯合子贫血死亡

W-3Bao是本研究组通过诱变获得、Kit无义突变的白斑小鼠.突变基因杂合子小鼠腹部、四肢肢端及尾尖白化,其部分精曲小管内无精原细胞.突变纯合子小鼠在胚胎后期色泽苍白、个体矮小,于出生前后死亡;血液学检查发现纯合子小鼠血色素极低且红细胞变大:18.5天胚胎的连续切片可见精曲小管轮廓欠清晰,精原细胞分散分布于睾丸间质,未迁入精曲小管:卵巢结构紊乱,无明显的原始卵泡结构;骨髓等器官组织未见显著异常.结论:Kit无义突变不仅导致了W-3Bao杂合子小鼠白斑形成及纯合子小鼠贫血死亡,同时影响生殖腺发育.     

ENU诱变获得一例巨结肠症小鼠及其突变基因的染色体定位

采用化学诱变剂乙酰基亚硝基脲(N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea,ENU)获得一种可遗传的腹部白斑突变杂合子小鼠,将该杂合子小鼠互交后获得具有花斑表型的突变纯合子小鼠,进一步研究表明突变纯合子小鼠表现为严重的巨结肠表型。肠全标本乙酰胆碱酯酶组织化学染色显示突变纯合子小鼠巨结肠段神经节细胞缺失。为定位该基因,利用微卫星标记(B6×D2)对F1互交获得的F2突变纯合子小鼠进行基因组扫描,初步将该突变基因定位于小鼠第14号染色体。     

Smad3基因剔除小鼠的繁殖与基因型鉴定

目的为进一步深入研究Smad3基因在脊椎动物发育中的重要作用,对Smad3基因剔除小鼠进行保种和繁育研究.方法采用基因剔除杂合子小鼠进行保种,通过PCR和Southern杂交对杂合子小鼠交配所产生的后代进行基因型鉴定,纯合子小鼠和野生型小鼠用于表型分析,杂合子小鼠用于留种和繁殖生产.结果采用PCR方法对278只子代小鼠进行了基因型鉴定,83只为野生型,133只为杂合子,62只为纯合子.结论Smad3基因剔除突变能稳定遗传.采用杂合子小鼠保种,子代小鼠三种基因型比例符合孟德尔遗传定律.     

含P301L突变的Tau转基因小鼠纯合子品系的建立及鉴定

目的:建立含P301L突变的tau转基因小鼠的纯合子品系。方法:雄原核显微注射法获得含P301L突变的tau转基因阳性首建鼠,通过SYBR Green实时荧光定量PCR法和传统育种方式结合鉴定纯合子和杂合子。结果:共选育出95只纯合子,鉴定出的纯合子具有优于杂合子模拟老年痴呆生物学特性改变的优势。结论:外源性基因tau能稳定遗传,采用的SYBR Green实时荧光定量PCR和传统育种方式结合筛选鉴定纯合子和杂合子快速、经济、可靠。     

低钾型周期性麻痹相关的Cchl1a3基因R528H敲入小鼠模型的构建

目的：构建低钾型周期性麻痹相关的Cchl1a3基因R528H敲入小鼠模型。方法将 Cchl1a3-knock-in打靶载体电转染ES细胞,经过G418和Ganciclovoir筛选阳性ES细胞克隆并用PCR和DNA测序法鉴定。将阳性ES克隆注射到小鼠囊胚,获得嵌合体小鼠。通过杂交获得的杂合子小鼠与FLP小鼠交配繁育获得去neo杂合子小鼠,并用PCR和DNA测序进行鉴定。将去neo杂合子小鼠交配得到纯合子后代,进行生长发育等方面的观察。结果打靶载体成功转染ES细胞,PCR和DNA测序法证实9个ES细胞克隆发生正确的同源重组。通过显微注射获得7只嵌合体小鼠。将嵌合体小鼠交配繁育的杂合子小鼠和FLP小鼠交配获得9只去neo杂合子小鼠,最终得到15只去neo纯合子小鼠。该小鼠在发育至性成熟阶段,精神、饮食及活动状态良好,但是在4个月龄时逐渐出现脱毛,皮肤破溃甚至死亡。结论成功构建Cchl1a3基因 R528H 突变的纯合子小鼠,为研究人类CACNA1S基因功能和阐明低钾型周期性麻痹发生的分子机制奠定了基础。     

DDR2基因缺失小鼠的繁育及子代基因型的鉴定

目的：探讨盘状结构域受体2（DDR2）基因缺失小鼠的优化繁殖方法与子代小鼠DDR2基因型的鉴定方法,建立DDR2基因缺失小鼠模型,为进一步研究DDR2分子在肿瘤、肺纤维化、类风湿性关节炎等复杂疾病中的功能以及作用机制奠定基础。方法：将从美国JAX实验室引进的三对杂合子小鼠进行饲养并交配繁殖,繁殖成功后其子代中将会出现野生型、杂合子以及纯合子3种基因型。用基因组提取试剂盒试剂盒提取子鼠鼠尾的基因组DNA,经紫外分光光度计定量后,采用Taqman qPCR的方法准确鉴定出小鼠的基因型,同时观察子代小鼠各基因型的比例,并通过小鼠体态观察,进一步证实Taqman qPCR鉴定方法的可靠性。结果：DDR2基因杂合子小鼠互交繁殖可得到DDR2野生型小鼠、DDR2纯合子小鼠以及DDR2杂合子小鼠三种基因型小鼠,所得子代基本符合孟德尔遗传规律,且雌性和雄性DDR2纯合子小鼠体长均较DDR2野生型小鼠和DDR2杂合子小鼠小,鼻子也较其它基因型小鼠明显变短,无繁殖能力。依据Taqman qPCR的结果所得出的纯合子小鼠体貌特征与文献报道一致,证实了Taqman qPCR结果的可靠性。结论：雌、雄性DDR2杂合子小鼠交配可有效获得DDR2基因缺失小鼠;实验所用Taqman qPCR方法能够准确鉴定子代小鼠的基因型,DDR2纯合子小鼠的获得为后续实验的提供了较理想的动物模型。     

两种白斑小鼠突变基因的染色体定位

以本中心ENU诱变获得的两种白斑突变小鼠W-4Bao与Kitl-1Bao为研究对象[均为C57BL/6J(B6)背景],遗传试验表明它们都为单基因显性遗传,W-4Bao及Kitl-1Bao突变基因纯合子小鼠的表型分别为全白色及“黑头白”;将白斑杂合子小鼠与DBA/2(D2)交配获得具有白斑表型的F1小鼠,F1小鼠再回交D2繁殖[(B6×D2)F1×D2]F2小鼠,利用微卫星标记对F2代小鼠进行连锁分析。结果发现W-4Bao与微卫星D5Mit356、D5Mit308之间的LOD值分别为56.82、51.50,从而把该突变基因定位于第5号染色体D5Mit356与D5Mit308之间;Kitl-1Bao与微卫星D10Mit70、D10Mit68之间的LOD值分别为27.37、21.20,从而把该突变基因定位于第10号染色体上D10Mit70与D10Mit68之间。经过检索小鼠基因组数据库确认它们的候选基因分别为kit及kitl。     

活体冷冻固定及冷冻置换的小鼠睾丸组织内血清白蛋白和IgG的免疫组织化学定位

目的了解小鼠睾丸组织内血清白蛋白和IgG渗透性的时相性变化,揭示支持细胞间紧密连接的屏障功能。方法运用活体内冷冻固定技术对小鼠睾丸进行快速冷冻固定和冷冻置换,并作石蜡包埋。5μm厚连续切片用于抗鼠血清白蛋白和IgG的免疫组化染色和H．E染色。结果H．E染色切片显示距冷冻组织表面300-400μm深度范围内的精曲小管结构保存完好,无明显冰晶形成所致的人工损伤。血清白蛋白和IgG免疫反应产物主要定位于精曲小管管周肌样细胞周围,以及间质细胞之间和毛细血管内,部分免疫反应产物呈拱型出现在精曲小管上皮内,并严格限定在基底室,沿精原细胞表面分布。拱型免疫反应产物的数量与精曲小管上皮周期的发育时相密切相关。结论活体内快速冷冻固定和冷冻置换结合血清白蛋白和IgG的免疫组化方法,可很好地保存精曲小管组织结构并清楚地揭示支持细胞间紧密连接结构的时相变化。     

miR-5572转基因小鼠构建病态窦房结综合征疾病模型的繁殖与鉴定

目的探讨miR-5572转基因小鼠构建病态窦房结综合征疾病模型的可行性。方法繁殖与鉴定了miR-5572 F1及F2代野生型纯合子及杂合子小鼠,并通过形态学、心电图记录及窦房结组织Cav1.2、Cav1.3mRNA和蛋白表达水平测定来观察疾病模型。结果 F2代miR-5572纯合子敲入小鼠在形态上较野生型小鼠生长缓慢,体型较小。相较于杂合子和野生型小鼠,纯合小鼠的平均心率明显偏低(P0.05),差异有显著性。miR-5572纯合子小鼠窦房结组织Cav1.2、Cav1.3 mRNA和蛋白表达水平低于野生型(P0.05),差异有显著性。结论过表达miR-5572转基因小鼠可以构建病态窦房结综合征疾病模型。     

几丁质酶结构域内含蛋白1(Chid1)基因剔除小鼠的建立

建立几丁质酶结构域内含蛋白1(chitinase domain containing 1,Chid1)基因剔除小鼠,观察小鼠表型和发育差异。设计了合适的基因剔除策略,成功构建了基因剔除打靶载体。以电穿孔方法将打靶载体导入ES细胞(embryonic stem cell),用G418和Ganciclovoir进行正负筛选,挑选抗药的阳性克隆,提取ES细胞基因组DNA,用长臂PCR鉴定出阳性ES细胞。将阳性ES细胞复苏培养后注入小鼠囊胚,获得嵌合体小鼠。嵌合体小鼠与C57BL/6J小鼠交配后获得Aguoti毛色的杂合子小鼠。在雌雄杂合子交配的后代中获得纯合子小鼠。从脑、脾脏、肝、肺的RNA水平鉴定来看,基因剔除小鼠的Chid1基因未表达,而杂合子、野生型小鼠有明显的该基因条带。经过初步的表型观察发现,Chid1基因剔除小鼠发育正常,未出现胚胎致死,交配繁殖能力无异常。几丁质酶结构域内含蛋白1(Chid1)基因剔除小鼠模型建立成功。Child1基因对于小鼠发育、生殖方面无明显作用。     

Differential Effects of the KitW Mutation with Other Kit Allelic Combinations on Male Sterility Among Inter- or Intrasubspecific Hybrids in Mice

The combination of the Kit ^W mutation and Kit ^S allele from Mus spretus leads to male hybrid sterility. The effects of other combinations between Kit ^W and Kit ^M from Mus m. molossinus or Kit ^N from Mus m. musculus on male reproductive ability were examined in this study. The Kit ^W/Kit ^M and Kit ^W/Kit ^N males were fertile and showed the normal pattern of spermatogenesis in most seminiferous tubules. There were two amino acid substitutions in the protein deduced from the cDNA sequence coded by the Kit ^M allele sequence and three in the Kit ^M allele compared with the protein from the + Kit allele of C57BL mice. These amino acid exchanges had no effect on the fertility of Kit ^W/Kit ^M and Kit ^W/Kit ^N males. Therefore, comparing the sequence data from cDNA coded by Kit ^M and Kit ^N alleles with that for the Kit ^S allele, we concluded that one or more amino acid exchanges in the extracellular domain would be the cause of male hybrid sterility in the Kit ^W/Kit ^S combination; these substitutions are Phe to Ser at position 72, Thr to Ala at 95, Ser to Arg at 101, Leu to Pro at 123, and Ile to Met at 1303     

Mast cell activation is not required for induction of airway hyperresponsiveness by ozone in mice

Exposure to ambient ozone(O₃) is associated withincreased exacerbations of asthma. We sought to determine whether mastcell degranulation is induced by in vivo exposure toO₃ in mice and whether mast cellsplay an essential role in the development of pulmonarypathophysiological alterations induced byO₃. For this we exposed mastcell-deficientWBB6F₁-kit^W/kit^W-v(kit^W/kit^W-v)mice and the congenic normalWBB6F₁ (+/+) mice to air or to 1 or 3 parts/million O₃ for 4 h andstudied them at different intervals from 4 to 72 h later. We foundevidence of O₃-induced cutaneous,as well as bronchial, mast cell degranulation. Polymorphonuclear cellinflux into the pulmonary parenchyma was observed after exposure to 1 part/milllion O₃ only in mice thatpossessed mast cells. Airway hyperresponsiveness to intravenousmethacholine measured in vivo under pentobarbital anesthesia wasobserved in bothkit^W/kit^W-vand +/+ mice after exposure to O₃.Thus, although mast cells are activated in vivo byO₃ and participate inO₃-induced polymorphonuclear cellinfiltration into the pulmonary parenchyma, they do not participate detectably in the development ofO₃-induced airwayhyperresponsiveness in mice.

     

Renewal and proliferation of spermatogonia during spermatogenesis in the Japanese quail,Coturnix coturnix japonica

Summary Four different types of spermatogonia were identified in the seminiferous tubules of the Japanese quail: a dark type A (A_d), 2 pale A type (A_p1 and A_p2), and a type B. A model is proposed describing the process of spermatogonial development in the quail. The A_d spermatogonia are considered to be the stem cells. Each divides to produce a new A_d spermatogonium and a A_p1 spermatogonium during Stage IX of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. An A_p1 spermatogonium produces two A_p2 spermatogonia during Stage II of the cycle, A_p2 spermatogonia produce four type B spermatogonia during Stage VI of the cycle, and type B spermatogonia produce eight primary spermatocytes during Stage III of the cycle. Consequently, 32 spermatids can result from each division of an A_d spermatogonium. Spermatogonial development in the quail differs from the process described in mammals in that there are fewer mitotic divisions and they are all synchronized with the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. It is suggested that the fewer mitotic divisions explain why a smaller area of the seminiferous tubule is occupied by a cellular association in the quail than in mammals like the rat, ram and bull. The duration of spermatogenesis from the division of the A_d spermatogonia to sperm release from the seminiferous epithelium was estimated to be 12.77 days.     

Quantitative Analysis of the Cellular Composition in Seminiferous Tubules in Normal and Genetically Modified Infertile Mice

The aim of this study was to establish a quantitative standard for the cellular composition in seminiferous tubules at each stage of spermatogenesis in the mouse testis, and thereby evaluate abnormalities in the infertile mouse testis. We applied a combination of lectin histochemistry for acrosomes and immunohistochemistry for various specific cell markers, both of which were visualized with fluorescence, on paraffin sections of the testis. We first examined seminiferous tubules from normal mice and counted the number of each cell type at each stage of spermatogenesis. We then examined seminiferous tubules from genetically modified mice deficient (-/-) for one of the cell adhesion molecules, nectin-2 or nectin-3, and compared the number of each cell type at each stage of spermatogenesis with the corresponding value in normal mice. In both nectin-2^-/- and nectin-3^-/- mice, which are infertile despite the apparently normal morphology of the seminiferous epithelia, we measured a progressive loss in the later-step spermatids, with significantly lower numbers of step 11–16 spermatids in nectin-3^-/- mice and step 15–16 spermatids in nectin-2^-/- mice as compared with that in normal control mice. The present study demonstrated that a quantitative analysis of cellular compositions at different stages in seminiferous tubules was useful for evaluating abnormalities in spermatogenesis.     

Crlz-1 Is Prominently Expressed in Spermatogonia and Sertoli Cells during Early Testis Development and in Spermatids during Late Spermatogenesis

The expression of the Crlz-1 gene in mouse testis, where it was found to be expressed most highly among the tested mouse organs, was analyzed spatiotemporally by employing RT-PCR and in situ hybridization techniques with the aid of immunohistochemistry and/or immunofluorescence methods. In 1-week-old neonatal testis, Crlz-1 was strongly expressed in the spermatogonia and Sertoli cells in its seminiferous cord. In 2- to 3-week-old prepubertal testis, where Sertoli cells cease to proliferate, Crlz-1 expression dropped and remained weakly at the rim layer of seminiferous cords and/or tubules, where spermatogonia are present. In the adult testis at 12 weeks after birth, Crlz-1 was expressed mainly in the spermatids near the lumen of seminiferous tubules. In a further in situ hybridization of Crlz-1 in the 12-week-old adult testis with hematoxylin nuclear counterstaining, Crlz-1 was mainly expressed at step 16 of spermatids between stages VII and VIII of seminiferous tubules as well as in their residual bodies at stage IX of seminiferous tubules.     

Evidence of phloem boron transport in response to interrupted boron supply in white lupin (Lupinus albus L. cv. Kiev Mutant) at the reproductive stage

The present study investigates whether previously acquired boron(B) in mature leaves in white lupin can be retranslocated intothe rapidly growing young reproductive organs, in response toshort-term (3 d) interrupted B supply. In a preliminary experimentwith white lupin in soil culture, B concentrations in phloemexudates remained at 300–500 µM, which were substantiallyhigher than those in the xylem sap (10–30 µM). Thehigh ratios of B concentrations in phloem exudates to thosein the xylem sap were close to values published for potassiumin lupin plants. To differentiate ‘old’ B in theshoot from ‘new’ B in the root, an experiment wascarried out in which the plants were first supplied with 20µM ¹¹B (99.34% by weight) in nutrient solution for 48d after germination (DAG) until early flowering and then transferredinto either 0.2 µM or 20 µM ¹⁰B (99.47% by weight)for 3 d. Regardless of the ¹⁰B treatments, significant levelsof ¹¹B were found in the phloem exudates (200–300 µMin 20 µM ¹⁰B and 430 µM in 0.2 µM ¹⁰B treatment)and xylem sap over the three days even without ¹¹B supply tothe root. In response to the 0.2 µM ¹⁰B treatment, thetranslocation of previously acquired ¹¹B in the young (the uppermostthree leaves), matured, and old leaves was enhanced, coincidingwith the rise of ¹¹B in the xylem sap (to >15 µM) andphloem exudates (430 µM). The evidence supports the hypothesisthat previously acquired B in the shoot was recirculated tothe root via the phloem, transferred into the xylem in the root,and transported in the xylem to the shoot. In addition, somepreviously acquired ¹¹B in the leaves may have been translocatedinto the rapidly growing inflorescence. Phloem B transport resultedin the continued net increment of ¹¹B in the flowers over 3d without ¹¹B supply. However, it is still uncertain whetherthe amount of B available for recirculation is adequate to supportreproductive growth until seed maturation. Key words: ¹⁰B, ¹¹B, B recirculation, Lupinus albus L., phloem exudate, xylem sap Received 9 October 2007; Revised 28 November 2007 Accepted 30 November 2007     

Mast cells contribute to double-stranded RNA-induced augmentation of airway eosinophilia in a murine model of asthma

Background

Clinical studies showed the contribution of viral infection to the development of asthma. Although mast cells have multiple roles in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma, their role of in the virus-associated pathogenesis of asthma remains unknown. Most respiratory viruses generate double-stranded (ds) RNA during their replication. dsRNA provokes innate immune responses. We recently showed that an administration of polyinocinic polycytidilic acid (poly IC), a mimetic of viral dsRNA, during allergen sensitization augments airway eosinophilia and hyperresponsiveness in mice via enhanced production of IL-13.

Methods

The effect of poly IC on allergen-induced airway eosinophilia was investigated for mast cell-conserved Kit^+/+ mice and -deficient Kit^W/Kit^W-v mice. The outcome of mast cell reconstitution was further investigated.

Results

Airway eosinophilia and IL-13 production were augmented by poly IC in Kit^+/+ mice but not in Kit^W/Kit^W-v mice. When Kit^W/Kit^W-v mice were reconstituted with bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs), the augmentation was restored. The augmentation was not induced in the mice systemically deficient for TIR domain-containing adaptor-inducing IFN-β (TRIF) or interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3, both mediate dsRNA-triggered innate immune responses. The augmentation was, however, restored in Kit^W/Kit^W-v mice reconstituted with TRIF-deficient or IRF-3-deficient BMMCs. Although leukotriene B₄ and prostaglandin D₂ are major lipid mediators released from activated mast cells, no their contribution was shown to the dsRNA-induced augmentation of airway eosinophilia.

Conclusions

We conclude that mast cells contribute to dsRNA-induced augmentation of allergic airway inflammation without requiring direct activation of mast cells with dsRNA or involvement of leukotriene B₄ or prostaglandin D₂.     

The spotted sterile male--a new mutation of dominant spotting on the mouse chromosome 5

Spotted sterile male - a new mutation in mice is described (tentative symbol Ssm). White spotting on the belly, legs and tail as well as sterility in heterozygous males Ssm/+ of the B10.M strain are caused by autosomal semidominant gene Ssm. The gene is localized on the 5 chromosome: the frequency of recombination between Ssm and go is 13.6 +/- 1.6%; Ssm is closely linked to Wv. The diheterozygotes Ssm+/+Wv are darkeyed white sterile mice. The deficiency of spermatogenic epithelium cells, emptyness of seminiferous tubules as well as interstitial tissue overgrowing occurred in the testis in sterile males Ssm/+ of B10.M. The fertile hybrid males Ssm/+ are obtained in outcrossing of females Ssm/+ of B10.M with males of YT/Y, CBA/CaY, DBA/2JY, A.CA/Y strains.     

Energetic Costs of Tissue Construction in Yellow-poplar and White Oak Trees Exposed to Long-term CO2Enrichment

Two methods were used to estimate construction costs for leaves,stems, branches and woody roots of yellow-poplar (LiriodendrontulipiferaL.) trees grown at ambient (35 Pa) and elevated (65Pa) CO₂for 2.7 years and trees of white oak (Quercus albaL.)grown at these same CO₂partial pressures for 4 years. Samplecombustion in a bomb calorimeter combined with measurementsof ash and nitrogen content provided the primary method of estimatingtissue construction costs (W_G; g glucose g^-1dry mass). Thesevalues were compared with a second, simpler method in whichcost estimates were derived from tissue ash, carbon and nitrogencontent (V_G). Estimates of W_Gwere lower for leaves, branchesand roots of yellow-poplar and for leaves of white oak grownat elevated compared with ambient CO₂partial pressures. TheseCO₂-induced differences in W_Granged from 3.7% in yellow-poplarroots to 2.1% in white oak leaves. Only in the case of yellow-poplarleaves, however, were differences in V_Gobserved between CO₂treatments.Leaf V_Gwas 1.46 g glucose g^-1dry mass in ambient-grown treescompared with 1.41 g glucose g^-1dry mass for CO₂-enriched trees.Although paired-estimates of W_Gand V_Gclustered about a 1:1 linefor leaves and branches, estimates of V_Gwere consistently lowerthan W_Gfor stems and roots. Construction costs per unit leafarea were 95 g glucose m^-2for yellow-poplar trees grown at ambientCO₂and 106 g glucose m^-2for trees grown at elevated CO₂partialpressures. No differences in area-based construction costs wereobserved for white oak. Whole-plant energy content was 1220g glucose per tree in ambient-grown white oak compared with2840 g glucose per tree for those grown at elevated CO₂partialpressures. These differences were driven largely by CO₂-inducedchanges in total biomass. We conclude that while constructioncosts were lower at elevated CO₂partial pressures, the magnitudeof this response argues against an increased efficiency of carbonuse in the growth processes of trees exposed to CO₂enrichment. Bomb calorimeter; construction costs; elevated CO₂; energy allocation; global change; growth respiration; heat of combustion; respiration; Liriodendron tulipifera; Quercus alba     

The Effect of Mutation <Emphasis Type="Italic">dominant spotting-Yurlovo</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Kit</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">W-Y</Emphasis></Superscript>) on Spermatogenesis,Early Embryogenesis,and Fertility of C57BL/6JY Mice

The effect of mutation Kit ^W-Y found in C57BL/6 mice on fertility, spermatogenesis, and early embryogenesis of mice have been studied. If heterozygotes Kit ^W /+ are crossed with wild-type mice, fertility decreases by 20%. Homozygotes Kit ^W-Y /Kit ^W-Y and compounds Kit ^W-Y /Kit ^Ssm are nonviable. The study of spermatogenesis in Kit ^W /+ mice has demonstrated a negative effect of this mutation on spermatocytes. Histological examination of the testes of mutant males has shown local empty spaces in seminal ducts. Electron microscopic examination of synaptonemal complexes have demonstrated desynapsis disturbance in some nuclei at the diplotene stage of meiotic prophase I. However, these disturbances do not cause a decrease in the number of fertilized oocytes/ova. The decrease in fertility is accounted for disturbances of early embryogenesis. In vivo and in vitro analyses of early embryogenesis have demonstrated that cleavage divisions are asynchronous in Kit ^W-Y /+ heterozygous embryos. Some of these embryos die before implantation, and others cleave more rapidly than wild-type embryos, which give them selective advantage during the postimplantation period of embryogenesis. The pattern of Kit ^W-Y expression during spermatogenesis and embryogenesis mimics potential human pathology, which makes these mutants an interesting and valuable object for genetics and developmental biology.