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Emphysema in the blotchy mouse: A morphometric study
Author(s) -
McCartney Alison C. E.,
Fox Bernard,
Partridge Terence A.,
Macrae Kenneth D.,
Tetley Teresa D.,
Phillips Gary J.,
Guz Abraham
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711560115
Subject(s) - biology , locus (genetics) , genetics , gene
Inheritance of the Blotchy allele at the X‐chromosomal Mottled locus of mice results in changes in the lung which resemble emphysema. Previous studies using measurements of mean linear intercept have recognized emphysema in the hemizygous, Blo/Y, male and homozygous, Blo/Blo, female, but not in the heterozygous, Blo/+, female. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid, accurate method for analysis of emphysema and to establish whether it would identify emphysema in the heterozygote. Lungs from wild type and outbred Blo mice were inflated with fixative at a pressure of 25 cm and then sectioned and stained Transect lengths across air spaces were measured using computerized image analysis and the results were plotted as histograms. Data were also expressed as cumulative frequencies (ogives) and subjected to statistical analysis by the non‐parametric Kolmogorov—Smirnov test. Emphysema was shown by significantly increased ( P <0.001) transect lengths in the Blo/Blo female and Blo/Y male compared with the wild type controls. The heterozygous Blo/+ mice form an intermediate group significantly different ( P <0.001) from the wild and blotchy mice. The sensitivity of the method is illustrated by the fact that the Blo/+ female formed an intermediate group between wild type and the Blo/Y male and Blo/Blo female.