Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Sexually dimorphic genes regulate healing and regeneration in MRL mice

Mammalian Genome Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The MRL mouse has been shown to display unusual healing properties. In particular, when the ear pinna is hole punched, the hole that is made closes completely without scarring, with reformation of hair follicles and sebaceous glands, and regrowth of cartilage. Initial studies using (MRL/lpr × C57BL/6) F2 and backcross mice showed that this phenomenon is genetically determined and that multiple loci contribute to this quantitative trait. In the present study, with twice as many animals, we have confirmed many of the original heal loci and identified new ones. We have also found that this phenotype is sexually dimorphic in that female mice heal more quickly and more completely than male mice. To test the cause of this difference, we castrated both males and females. Castration of males led to better healing, although ovariectomy did not lead to worse healing in female mice. Finally, most heal loci were shown to be responsible for regulating healing primarily in male animals more than in females, or vice versa. Thus, sex plays a highly significant role in the closure of wounded tissue in this mammalian model of healing and regeneration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Blankenhorn, E., Troutman, S., Clark, L. et al. Sexually dimorphic genes regulate healing and regeneration in MRL mice . Mamm Genome 14, 250–260 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-002-2222-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-002-2222-3

Keywords

Navigation