Morphological analysis of hair in the hr-2 mutant deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus).
Skin from 36 hairless deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) homozygous for the recessive hr-2 mutation were analyzed for structural defects in hair and hair loss. Comparison of mutant to wild-type hairs demonstrated characteristic abnormalities in cellular organization, hair shape, length, and fragility. Matings between mutants homozygous for the hr-2 gene and for a second mutation producing hairlessness in deer mice, hr-1, showed that these two genes were nonallelic. Structural abnormalities in hairs associated with the expression of this gene suggest that its primary effect may be on the epidermis.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29208.
L W
LW
Knapp
W D
WD
Dawson
D000505:Alopecia / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000235:genetics*