Animal model: skeletal anomalies in mice with cleidocranial dysplasia.

Cleidocranial dysplasia in mice, a radiation-induced skeletal mutation, showed striking homology with cleidocranial dysplasia in humans. Genetic studies indicated that the condition in mice is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait with variable expressivity and almost complete penetrance. The homozygous condition was lethal in utero. Radiographic and alcian blue/alizarin red S-stained whole-skeletal preparation studies were used to determine the extent, pattern, incidence, and distribution of skeletal abnormalities in heterozygous mice. Cleidocranial dysplasia in mice was characterized by variable clavicular hypoplasia, delayed closure of cranial fontanelles and sutures, and variable hypoplasia of pelvic bones, in particular ischiopubic rami. The gene symbol Ccd is proposed for the cleidocranial dysplasia mutation in mice and humans.