Mouse dwarf

Masternak, M. M., Al-Regaiey, K. A., Bonkowski, M. S., Panici, J. A., and Bartke, A. (2005). Effect of every other day feeding diet on gene expression in normal and in long-lived Ames dwarf mice. Exp. Gerontol. 40, 491-497. 

Brown-Borg HM, Borg KE, Meliska CJ, Bartke A. Dwarf mice and the ageing process. Nature 1996 384 33. 

Shiwaku, K., Hirai, K., Torii, M. Tsuboi, T. (1983). Effects of Spirometra erinacei plerocercoids on the growth of Snell dwarf mice. Parasitology, 87 447-53. 

Prolactin has been shown to increase LH receptor numbers in dwarf mice, seasonally repressed hamsters and hypophysectomized rats (see Ref. 6 for other references). In the hypophysectomized rats the combined effects of prolactin, growth hormone and LH were necessary to maintain the LH receptors [46]. The induction of hyperprolactinemia leads to increased LH receptors. Decreases in serum prolactin levels caused by treatment with compounds that inhibit the release of prolactin (dopamine analogues) decrease LH receptors (see Ref. 6 for other references). 

Decreased glucose oxidation and conversion to fatty acids in adipose tissue from dwarf mice (after 4 h) and in 3T3 adipocytes (after 24-48 h). 

Dwarfism in the mouse is an hereditary trait the affected mice exhibit retarded postnatal growth, lack of estrous cyclicity, hypothermia and sterility. The primary deficit in the two major types of dwarf mice (Snell and Ames) is in the anterior pituitary, which is deficient in the production and release of prolactin, GH and thyrotropin (for review, see Phelps, 1994). The adult dwarf mice also have a deficit in TIDA neurons the content and rate of synthesis of DA in the median eminence, and numbers of TH-IR perikarya in the ARC are markedly reduced. This deficit appears selective for TIDA neurons as there is no change in the numbers of DA perikarya in the MZI (IHDA neurons) or substantia nigra (nigrostriatal DA neurons). 

Prior to postnatal day 21, the characteristics of the TIDA neurons in dwarf mice cannot be distinguished from those in the normal littermate controls. That is, the DA content in the mediobasal hypothalamus and the number of TH-positive perikarya are the same in dwarf and normal mice. After 21 days of life, TIDA neurons in the dwarf mice regress such that their number at 60 days of age is less than it is at 21 days. This could represent the... 

Phelps CJ (1994) Pituitary hormones as neurotrophic signals anomalous hypophysiotrophic neuron differentiation in hypopituitary dwarf mice. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 206 6-23. 

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