Contrasted, a steel allele in the mouse with intermediate effects

Abstract

SUMMARYThe steel allele, contrasted (Slcon), arose in a neutron irradiation experiment.Slconis fully penetrant and heterozygotes can be recognized at or soon after birth by darkly pigmented external genitalia in both sexes, while the adult coat tends to be a little lighter than normal. Homozygotes also have dark genitalia and a markedly diluted coat. Both eumelanin and phaeomelanin are affected, with reduced numbers of cortical and medullary pigment granules in the hairs. Contrasted also affects the haematopoietic system, causing slight macrocytic anaemia in the homozygote.Slconhomozygous males are fertile but testes weigh on average 20% less than in their heterozygous litter-mates. Homozygous females are usually sterile although if mated early (4½−6 weeks) they occasionally have a single litter. Ovarian sections showed a gradual degeneration of oocytes in Graafian follicles so that most had gone by 2 months. Similarly, vaginal smears indicated that after about three normal cycles homozygous females lapsed into a state of persistent dioestrus; injections with gonadotrophins did not prolong their period of fertility or cause a resumption of their oestrous cycles. The effects on fertility, pigmentation and haematology of contrasted when combined with other steel alleles are also described.