Hydrocephalus caused by conditional ablation of the Pten or beta-catenin gene
2008
Hydrocephalus from Pten and beta-catenin Gene Deletion
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Ohtoshi Akihira
Primary Institution: Center for Molecular Neurobiology, The Ohio State University
Hypothesis
Does conditional ablation of the Pten or beta-catenin gene cause hydrocephalus in mice?
Conclusion
Both Pten and beta-catenin are essential for proper midbrain development, and their mutations lead to hydrocephalus.
Supporting Evidence
- Conditional inactivation of either Pten or beta-catenin causes hydrocephalus in mice.
- Homozygous deletion of these genes resulted in severe hydrocephalus and mortality.
- Anatomical examination confirmed hydrocephalus and brain malformations.
- Median survival times for Pten and beta-catenin mutant mice were 23 and 16 days, respectively.
Takeaway
When certain genes are turned off in mice, it can cause their brains to grow too big and lead to a serious condition called hydrocephalus.
Methodology
Conditional ablation of Pten or beta-catenin genes was performed using Dmbx1-Cre mice.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on mouse models, which may not fully represent human conditions.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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