Surface defects in ventricular cells of brains of mouse embryos homozygous for the Loop-tail gene: scanning electron microscopic study.
Luminal surfaces in the mesencephalon and rhombencephalon in normal mouse embryos and those homozygous for Lopp-tail were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy. Ventricular cells in the ventrolateral regions of normal day-10 and -11 brains showed single apical cilia and microvilli, whereas those in ventromedial regions showed a dense network of microvilli and bulbous projections which tended to obscure the apical cilia and cellular outlines. Similar regional differences occurred in the Loop-tail brains, although there was a marked decrease in the number and density of microvilli and bulbous projections. At days 12-14 of gestation the latter brains also showed a flattening of cell surfaces, shallow depressions, and craterlike ruptures in the plasma membranes.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005796:Genes; D006579:Heterozygote; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009154:Mutation; D011247:Pregnancy