Mice homozygous for the recessive Vac14ingls mutation are significantly smaller than their littermates, and their coat color is dilute with white underfur both dorsally and ventrally (Sweet 1991; Samples 2003). Most develop hydrocephalus with onset by one week of age. Homozygotes are weak and uncoordinated and have difficulty righting themselves. They fail to gain weight during the second week of life, and most die by three weeks of age. (Bronson et al. 2003) Length of survival appears to correlate with the severity of hydrocephalus, which varies from absent to severe; however, all homozygotes die by four weeks, whether or not they are hydrocephalic (Samples et al. 2003).
Hydrocephalus affects the lateral ventricles most severely; serial sections reveal an intact cerebral aqueduct. Diffuse astrocytic hypertrophy and hyperplasia are observed in brains and spinal cords of mutant mice. A few mutants develop status spongiosis, and a few exhibit gliosis alone. Astrocytes cultured from affected mice stop dividing within three weeks, but survive for up to 12 weeks. They do not develop into tumors when implanted into the brains of normal mice. (Bronson et al. 2003)

These mice carry a spontaneous mutation at the Vac14 locus characterized by small size and prevalent hydrocephalus. They are suitable for use in applications related to the study of the phosphoinositide phosphate regulatory complex and neuron development in the mammalian nervous system.

Typically mice are recovered in 12-16 weeks. Contact Customer Service to place an order or for more information.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.jax.org/jax-mice-and-services/customer-support" rel="noreferrer">Contact Customer Service</a> for more information.