Rat mutant (NZNU) showing "nude" characteristics.
A new rat mutant (nznu) is described which shows characteristics similar to those of the nude mouse. The mutant is an autosomal recessive. Homozygotes are essentially hairless (except for stunted vibriassae) and show deficient thymus gland development. Under conventional breeding conditions the mutants are difficult to raise and few survive weaning. The absence of functional thymus-derived lymphocytes in the nude rat is implied by (1) acceptance of histoincompatible skin grafts, (2) lack of response to the T cell mitogens phytohaemagglutinin and concanvalin A, and (3) absence of cells sensitive to alloantiserum directed against rat thymus-derived lymphocytes. Although total blood leukocytes from the nude rat were within the normal range, differential counting of leukocytes showed a 4-fold elevation of neutrophils and a 2.5-fold reduction of lymphocytes, compared with normal rats. Phenotypically normal heterozygotes gave values intermediate between nude and normal rats.
D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001792:Blood Platelets; D001947:Breeding; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D051381:Rats; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000002:abnormalities