Hemizygous mice are viable, fertile, normal in size, and do not display any behavioral abnormalities. Following adult or in utero exposure with xenobiotic ligands (including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)), lacZ expression is induced in tissues targeted by the toxic compounds; for example, embryonic tissues expressing beta-galactosidase following TCDD treatment in utero include hard and soft palates, genital tubercle, certain facial regions, shoulder, and other tissues). These mice may be useful in studies of toxicology, teratogenic and xenobiotic processes, Per-Arnt-Sim transcription factors, cleft-palate, and as a reporter strain to indicate the temporal and spatial context of transcriptionally active aryl hydrocarbon receptors following agonist exposure in vivo.
