Mice homozygous for Ces1ce are viable and fertile and exhibit no apparent defect.Ces1ce was discovered in a screen of progeny of triethylenemelamine (TEM) treated male mice for mutations at specific loci, but appears to have pre-existed in the male. The screen employed analysis of blood and kidney homogenates by "standard starch gel electrophoresis techniques" and focused on enzymes known to differ in electrophoretic mobility between the parental strains (DBA/2J and C57BL/6J). Ces1ce was initially thought to be a null allele, but characterization of homozygous F2 mice demonstrated presence of a faint band migrating between those of the parental strains, which was not perceived in the presence of either parental band. Thus, Ces1ce was shown to be a hypomorphic electrophoretic variant (Soares 1979).
The two main defects of mice homozygous for the nude spontaneous mutation (Foxn1nu, formerly Hfh11nu) are abnormal hair growth and defective development of the thymic epithelium. Although the mice appear hairless, they are born with functional but faulty hair growth follicles. Hair growth cycles and patterns are evident especially in pigmented mice but the faulty follicles do not allow the hair to properly erupt. Homozygous pups can be identified as young as 24 hours by their lack of whiskers or poorly developed crinkled whiskers. Nude mice are also athymic caused by a developmental failure of the thymic anlage. Consequently, homozygous nude mice lack T cells and suffer from a lack of cell-mediated immunity. However there is not a defect in T-cell precursors and under the right conditions some functional mature T cells can be found especially in adult mice. Because of a defect in helper T-cell activity, responses to thymus-dependent antigens when detectable are primarily limited to IgM. Homozygous nude mice show partial defect in B cell development probably due to absence of functional T cells. Other endocrine and neurological deficiences have been reported. The use of nude mice has reduced the number of thymectomy procedures required in research projects. Females are not effective breeders. Ovulation starts late at 2.5 months and ends early at 4 months.

These mice carry a spontaneous, knock-out mutation at the Ces1c locus characterized by abnormal hair growth and defective development of the thymic epithelium with a lack of T cells and cell-mediated immunity.

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

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