Neural and mammary gland defects in ErbB4 knockout mice genetically rescued from embryonic lethality

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jul 8;100(14):8281-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1436402100. Epub 2003 Jun 24.

Abstract

Mice lacking the epidermal growth factor receptor family member ErbB4 exhibit defects in cranial neural crest cell migration but die by embryonic day 11 because of defective heart development. To examine later phenotypes, we rescued the heart defects in ErbB4 mutant mice by expressing ErbB4 under a cardiac-specific myosin promoter. Rescued ErbB4 mutant mice reach adulthood and are fertile. However, during pregnancy, mammary lobuloalveoli fail to differentiate correctly and lactation is defective. Rescued mice also display aberrant cranial nerve architecture and increased numbers of large interneurons within the cerebellum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Movement
  • Central Nervous System / embryology*
  • Cerebellum / abnormalities
  • Cranial Nerves / embryology*
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / deficiency
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / physiology*
  • Female
  • Fetal Heart / growth & development
  • Interneurons / pathology
  • Lactation / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / abnormalities*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Milk Proteins*
  • Morphogenesis / genetics
  • Myosins / genetics
  • Neural Crest / cytology
  • Neuromuscular Junction / embryology
  • Organ Specificity
  • Phosphorylation
  • Phrenic Nerve / embryology
  • Pregnancy
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Receptor, ErbB-4
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Milk Proteins
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Trans-Activators
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Erbb4 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, ErbB-4
  • Myosins