The "hairless" gerbil: a new mutant.

Although the animal looks bald, the smooth, warm skin is covered by fine stubble. The vibrissae also appear broken off short. The nails appear normal and the ventral scent gland and nipples are well developed. This female is fertile and has had several litters, but none of her offspring show the mutation. Her parents produced 2 other hairless gerbils in subsequent litters, but these did not survive past 5 weeks. Histological examination revealed marked pathology of hair development, although the number of follicles seemed normal. The thymus was disorganized and sparsely populated with lymphocytes.