title: Reproductive performance and early postnatal development in interleukin (IL)-13-deficient mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of interleukin (IL)-13 deficiency on fertility and reproductive performance of adult mice and on morphological and behavioral development of the offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wild-type and homozygous IL-13-deficient (KO) mice were grouped by genotype, and male and female mice were mated within each group. Adult (F(0) ) mice were evaluated for reproductive performance, and development was assessed in F(1)  fetuses on gestation day 18, and in F(1)  pups to postnatal day 35.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In F(0)  males, there were no differences in the number of males that mated or impregnated females, or in total sperm count or sperm motility, between the wild-type and KO groups. In F(0)  females, there were no observed genotype-related differences in fertility, length of gestation, number of viable fetuses per litter, or viability of offspring. There were no differences in embryo-fetal development (external/palate, skeletal, visceral) of the F(1)  fetuses between genotypes. Similarly, IL-13 deficiency had no impact on any postnatal parameters assessed including reflex, sexual maturation, learning, and memory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-13 deficiency had no observed effect on reproductive performance or morphological and behavioral development in mice.
authors.affiliation: Drug Safety Research & Development, Pfizer, Groton, CT 06340, USA. david.wright@pfizer.com
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Karissa K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Adkins
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Minck
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Garvin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Leach
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D048788:Growth and Development; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009929:Organ Size; D013216:Reflex, Startle; D012098:Reproduction; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D014599:Uterus / Q000473:pathology; D014781:Viscera / Q000473:pathology; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D018793:Interleukin-13