MOUSE MODELS FOR NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS

结构性出生缺陷是美国婴儿死亡的主要原因，并对身体和情感公共健康产生巨大影响。了解其病因需要对包括中枢神经系统在内的器官系统发育相关的基本潜在机制有透彻的了解。利用动物模型进行的基础研究揭示了触发和控制发育过程的因素。

Structural birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality in the US and have an enormous physical and emotional public heath impact. Understanding their etiology requires thorough knowledge of the basic underlying mechanisms associated with the development of organ systems, including the central nervous system. Basic research using animal models is uncovering the factors that trigger and control developmental processes. Neural tube defects (NTDs), which include spina bifida and anencephaly, are one of the most frequent and severe developmental anomalies of the central nervous system. This contract supports mouse models of neural tube defects. It was originally issued in 1989 to establish a centralized, national resource. By supporting this resource, scientists interested in studying this important abnormality have ready access to these unique research animals. Currently, the primary objectives of this contract are to 1) maintain mouse strains with neural tube defects, 2) distribute breeding pairs of mice from these strains on request to investigators in the scientific community and 3) develop and evaluate potential new mouse models.