Lethal nonagouti (ax): Description of a second embryonic lethal at the agouti locus

The time and mode of action of the homozygous a^x gene, lethal nonagouti, has been investigated on the inbred AX/Pa background. Heterozygotes were mated inter se to produce 25% homozygous embryos and heterozygotes were mated with homozygous, nonagouti mice to provide control litters. Comparisons of the frequency of mating success, the ratio of implantation sites to ovarian ovulation sites, and the average litter sizes between experimental and control matings all indicated that a^x/a^x embryos are not lost prior to implantation. Histological examination of pregnant uteri indicated that a^x/a^x embryos are first evident as abnormal blastocysts at 4.5 days post coitum (pc). These implant and develop to varying degrees, some differentiating trophoblast giant cells and a primitive endoderm layer. Growth is retarded and only small, disorganized clumps of tissue remain by 7.5 and 8.5 days pc. The time and mode of gene action of lethal nonagouti is thus different from its allele, lethal Yellow.