SEM analysis of body hairs and whiskers of heterozygous tortoiseshell (Moto/+) female mice (Mus musculus).
Back hairs of +/+ and Moto/+ female Mus musculus generally exhibited identical form when examined by SEM. However, the hair shafts of Moto/+ female mice were beaded in appearance (monilethrix), twisted (pili torti) or exhibited a rough nodular appearance. Also, some hairs of Moto/+ female mice which were devoid of pigment appeared enlarged and bitubular. The whiskers of +/+ and Moto/+ female mice were identical in form. The hair abnormalities of Moto/+ female mice resulted from a copper deficiency and were similar to those hair anomalies observed in other mottled mice and in copper-deficient crinkled mice.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006579:Heterozygote; D051379:Mice / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning