Embryonic bone growth in lines of mice selected for large and small body size

Abstract

SUMMARYEmbryonic tibia growth was measured in large, small and control mouse embryos in situ and in organ culture. In situ tibias of the large line were longer than controls which were longer than tibias of the small line. Relative growth was approximately equal among lines. In culture tibias of the small line grew more than controls and as much as or more than tibias of the large line. Embryonic genotype appears to be more important in regulating tibia growth than uterine environment. Humoral differences among lines may influence tibia growth.