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，并对公众的身体和心理健康产生巨大影响。要想了解其病因，需要对器官系统(包括中枢神经系统)的发育相关的基本机制有透彻的了解。利用动物模型进行的基础研究正在揭示触发和控制发育过程的因素。 神经管畸形包括脊柱裂和无脑畸形，是最常见和最严重的中枢神经系统发育异常之一。该合同支持神经管缺陷的小鼠模型。它最初是在1989年发布的，目的是建立一个集中的、全国性的资源。通过支持这一资源，对研究这一重要异常现象感兴趣的科学家就可以随时接触到这些独特的研究动物。目前，该合同的主要目标是1)维护神经管缺陷的小鼠品系，2)应要求向科学界的研究人员分发这些品系的繁育小鼠对，以及3)开发和评估潜在的新小鼠模型。

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.