Snell mice

Two other myosin types have been implicated in hearing and vestibular function [62]. The defect in the Snell s waltzer mouse was found to be a mutation in a myosin VI gene that produces degeneration of the cochlea and vestibular apparatus. Myosin VI is localized to the cuticular plate of the hair cell under stereocilia. Similarly, mutations in a myosin VII gene are responsible for the shaker-1 mouse and several human genetic deafness disorders. This myosin, myosin Vila, is found in a band near the base of the stereocilia distinct from distributions of myosin ip and myosin VI. 

Avraham, K. B., Hasson, T., Steel, K. P., Kingsley, D. M. and Russell, L. B. The mouse Snell s waltzer deafness gene encodes an unconventional myosin. Nature Genetics 11 369-375,1995. 

Webb M, Emberley ED, Lizardo M, Alowami S, Qing G, Alfia ar A, Snell-Curtis LJ, Niu Y, Civetta A, Myal Y, Shiu R, Murphy LC, Watson PH. 2005. Expression analysis of die mouse S 100A7/psoriasin gene in skin inflammation and mammary tumorigenesis. BMC Cancer 5 17. 

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). 

L.L. Sarlieve, R. Bouchon, C. Koehl and N.M. Neskovic, Cerebroside and sulfatide biosynthesis in the brain of Snell Dwarf mouse effects of thyroxine and growth hormone in the early postnatal period, J. NeurochCTi. 40 1058 (1983). 

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