| Summary: | The hotfoot mutation first occurred in strain of mice C57BL/Ks in 1964. The homozygous (ho/ho) hotfoot mutation show a quick pattern motion that produces a progressive neuromuscular disability of the hind legs. The (ho/ho) is an autosomal recessive mutation affects fertility and neuromuscular system in mice. Objective: This study was implemented to determine the nature and causes of infertility, to ascertain potential value as an animal model due to the presence of similar mutation in human and other mammals. Methods: The experimental design to evaluate the fertility and sterility of young and old adult female and male hotfoot mice by utilizing the assisted reproduction technology (ART) via the in vitro fertilization, the in vitro embryo development, and the normal matting, the growth of the new born hotfoot mice. Results: Demonstrated that the young adult and the old hotfoot females produce about similar rate of ova number following superovulation. In addition, they yielded similar rate of embryo development in vitro form 1 cell to the 16 cell stage, morula and blastula stage compared to normal females. The old hotfoot females show better rate in the in vitro fertilization IVF and embryo development 53.6%, and the rate of the degenerating ova (46.4%) compared to the young adult females 38.5%, 61.35, respectively. The hotfoot males show sterility (22%) of the homozygous mutant males compared to phenotypically normal males. Regarding the normal matting, the hotfoot female mating with males had less litter size compared to normal mice mating. Conclusion: The hotfoot gene had a noticeable effect on the in vitro fertilization IVF of young adult compared to old adult hotfoot female, also the body weight growth and litter size of hotfoot less than normal mice.
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