Ultrastructural studies of lethal c 2 SHlc 25 H mouse embryos

Mouse embryos which are homozygous for the c deletion at the albino locus are developmentally arrested at the 2to 6-cell cleavage stages. This study reveals that the mutant embryos cease development before they can be distinguished ultrastructurally from their normal litter-mates. After prolonged developmental delay (24-48 h), the nuclei of the mutant embryos become extremely aberrant in shape, whereas other subcellular organelles remain normal and there are no signs of pyknosis. Eventually, the mutant embryos do become pyknotic and begin to degenerate. The striking effects of this deletion on nuclear ultrastructure of cleavage-stage embryos are discussed in relation to biochemical and ultrastructural defects caused by other lethal deletions at the albino locus.