Dwarfism Hereditary

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). 

G2. Gatti, R. A., Platt, N., Pomerance, H. H., Hong, R., Langer, L. O., Kay, H. E., and Good, R. A., Hereditary lymphopenic agammaglobulinemia associated with a distinctive form of short-limbed dwarfism and ectodermal dysplasia. J. Pediat. 76, 675-684 (1969). 

Growth hormone deficiency may be hereditary or a consequence of a pituitary tumor or head trauma. Congenital GH deficiency results in shortened stature (dwarfism). Currently, affected children are treated with commercially produced GH, a recombinant DNA product. In Laron s dwarfism, exogenous GH has no effect on the patient s cells because of a defective GH response mechanism. 

Pituitary dwarfism may be acquired or hereditary. A dwarf is defined as a person whose stature is 40% lower than normal or three standard deviations to the left of the mean. The causes of dwarfism are numerous. In addition to damage to the hypothalamus and... 

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