Mice hemizygous for the IRBP-Tag allele are viable, fertile, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. Expression of Tag is regulated by a murine interstitial retinol binding protein (IRBP) promoter (rbp3), which leads to expression of Tag in photoreceptor cells of the developing retina before their terminal differentiation. This expression results in hereditary retinoblastomas and pineal tumors arising from photoreceptor cells and pinealocytes, which may share a common evolutionary ancestor with retinal cells. IRBP-Tag mice develop narrowed ocular fissures by 3 to 4 weeks of age, and exophthalmia by 8 weeks of age. The pineal gland is enlarged by 5 to 6 weeks of age, and is no longer intact by 8 to 10 weeks of age when the tumor covers and invades the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres. These mice may be useful for studying heritable ocular tumors of photoreceptor cell origin and pineal tumors associated with retinoblastoma.

Mice expressing the IRBP-Tag allele develop hereditary retinoblastomas, pineal tumors, narrowed ocular fissures and exophthalmia. These mice may be useful for studying heritable ocular tumors of photoreceptor cell origin and pineal tumors associated with retinoblastoma.

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