Cell, Vol. 75, 59-72, October8, 1993,Copyright © 1993 by Cell Press
Mice Carrying Null Mutations of the Genes
Encoding Insulin-like Growth Factor I (Igf.1)
and Type 1 IGF Receptor (Igflr)
Jeh-Ping Liu,* Julie Baker,*
Archibald S. Perkins,l" Elizabeth J. Roberteon,*$
and Arglrle Efetratiadie*
*Department of Genetics and Development
Columbia University
New York, New York 10032
tDepartment of Pathology
Yale University School of Medicine
New Haven, Connecticut 06510
Summary
Newborn mice homozygous for a targeted disruption
of insulin-like growth factor gene 1 (Igf.1) exhibit a
growth deficiency similar in severity to that previously
observed in viable Igf.2 null mutants (60% of normal
blrthweight). Depending on genetic background, some
of the Igf.l(-/-) dwarfs die shortly after birth, while
others survive and reach adulthood. In contrast, null
mutants for the Igflr gene die invariably at birth of
respiratory failure and exhibit a more severe growth
deficiency (45% normal size). In addition to generalized organ hypoplasla in Igflr(-/-) embryos, including
the muscles, and developmental delays In ossification,
deviations from normalcy were observed in the central
nervous system and epidermis. Igf.l(-/-)/Igflr(-/-)
double mutants did not differ in phenotype from
Igflr(-/-) single mutants, while in Igf.2(-)/Igflr(-/-)
and Igf.l(-/-)/Igf.2(-) double mutants, which are phenotypioally identical, the dwarfism was further exacerbated (30% normal size). The roles of the IGFs in
mouse embryonic development, as revealed from the
phenotyplc differences between these mutants, are
discussed.
Introduction
The family of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their
cognate receptors and binding proteins (IGFBPs) consists
of two ligands (IGF-I and IGF-II) that are structu rally homologous to proinsulin, two receptors (types 1 and 2; IGF1R
and IGF2R), and at least six IGFBPs (for reviews, see
LeRoith, 1991; Schofield, 1992). Because the IGFs are
produced by many tissues, it is thought that they function
in an autocrine/paracrine fashion, although they may also
act as classical hormones, since they circulate in the
plasma in association with IGFBPs.
IGF-I mediates many of the effects of growth hormone
postnatally (see Daughaday, 1989; Isaksson et al., 1991;
Lowe, 1991; Han and Hill, 1992) and is thought to have
a dual function, acting as both a mitogen and a differentiation factor, according to the results of in vitro studies using
:[:Presentaddress:Biological Laboratories,HarvardUniversity,Cambridge, Massachusetts02138.
a variety of cell lines, primary cultures, and tissue explants
(reviewed by Sara and Hall, 1990; Lowe, 1991; Hart and
Hill, 1992). The essential growth-promoting function of
IGF-II, which is restricted to the period of embryogenesis
in the mouse, was revealed from our results of targeted
mutagenesis (DeChiara et al., 1990, 1991). These results
also showed that the Igf-2 gene is subject to parental imprinting; the paternal Igf-2 allele is expressed, while the
maternal allele is silent in most tissues. Thus, the heterozygous progeny carrying a paternally derived mutated Igf-2
gene (Igf-2(p-) mutants) and the homozygous Igf-2(-/-)
mutants are phenotypically indistinguishable: they are viable and fertile proportionate dwarfs, with a body weight
60% that of wild-type littermates. In contrast, when the
disrupted Igf-2 allele is transmitted maternally, the offspring are phenotypically normal.
In vitro studies have demonstrated that the two specific
cell surface receptors with which the IGFs interact are
structurally unrelated (reviewed by Roth, 1988; Czech,
1989; Neely et al., 1991; Nissley et al., 1991; Moxham and
Jacobs, 1992; Kornfeld, 1992). One of these receptors,
IGF1 R, which resembles the insulin receptor, is a disulfidelinked heterotetrameric (a21~2)transmembrane glycoprotein, with extracellular ligand-binding and intracellular tyrosine kinase domains (UIIrich et al., 1986). Construction
and expression of chimeric Igflr cDNAs defined a cysteine-rich segment of the extracellular a subunit as the binding region for both the IGF-I and IGF-II ligands (Gustafson
and Rutter, 1990; Zhang and Roth, 1991). Recent binding
studies using NIH 3T3 fibroblasts transfected with a human Igflr cDNA showed that IGFIR binds IGF-I with 15to 20-fold higher affinity than IGF-II (Germain-Lee et al.,
1992).
The second IGF receptor, IGF2R, is a single-chain polypeptide devoid of tyrosine kinase activity. It binds IGF-II
avidly but recognizes IGF-I barely, if at all (see Nissley et
al., 1991; Kornfeld, 1992). In mammals, IGF2R also serves
as the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor
involved in lysosomal enzyme targeting (Morgan et al.,
1987). The bifunctional mammalian IGF2R/cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor is encoded by a
gene (Igf2r) that is imprinted but in a reciprocal fashion
to Igf-2 (the expressed allele is maternal; Barlow et al.,
1991). IGF2R has an apparent role in IGF-II turnover (Oka
et al., 1985; Kiess et al., 1987; Nolan et al., 1990), but
despite some suggestive evidence (see Nishimoto et al.,
1991) it remains unclear whether it participates in a signaling pathway. Blocking of IGF2R by antibodies in various
cultured cells did not inhibit the mitogenic effect of IGF-II
(Mottola and Czech, 1984; Kiess et al., 1987), while analogous blocking of IGF1R did impair IGF-II function (Furlanetto et al., 1987; Conover et al., 1986). Thus, it is thought
that the biological effects of both IGF-I and IGF-II are mediated via interactions with IGFIR.
The widespread pattern of Igflr gene expression during
rodent embryogenesis (Bondy et al., 1990, 1992), in conjunction with the results of RNAase protection assays
Cell
60
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Figure 1. Targeting of the Mouse Igf-1 Locus
(A) Restrictionmap of the wild-type/gf-1 gene
(top) in the region containingexon 4 (E4) that
was mutagenizedby targeting (bottom) using
the indicatedreplacementvector(middle).The
restriction sites are: BamHI (B), EcoRI (E),
Hindllt(H), Spel (S), BspEI (Bs), Pvul (P), and
Kpnl (K). (13)Amino acid sequence of mouse
IGF-I, showing the portion of the polypeptide
(ellipse) encoded by the segment of E4 that
was eliminatedfrom the mutatedgene. Arrows
indicatetyrosineresiduesimportantfor binding
to IGF1R(seetext). An arrowheaddenotesthe
corresponding position of an intron between
exons 3 and 4 of Igf-l. (C) Southern analysis
of Hindlll-digastedgenomic DNA from control
ES cells (E) and three differenttargeted clones
(1"1-T3). The sizesof fragments(in kb) hybridizing to the probe shown in the bottom of (A) are
indicated.The sizemarkers (laneM) are Hindlll
fragments of phage ). DNA.
m
]
showing that the level of steady-state/gflr mRNA detected
in various rat embryonic tissues declines significantly postnatally (Werner et al., 1989), im plied that IG F1 R is involved
in prenatal development. An embryonic function of IGF-I
was also suggested by studies on Igf-1 gene expression
during rodent embryogenesis (Bondy et al., 1990, 1992;
Ayer-LeLievre et al., 1991; Streck and Pintar, 1992; Streck
et al., 1992).
To expand our previous study on IGF-II and determine
the roles of IGF-I and IGF1R in vivo, we disrupted the
cognate genes by targeted mutagenesis, examined the
mutant phenotypes, and then ascertained genetically
whether the IGF-I and IGF-II signal transduction occurs
via IGF1R in the mouse embryo.
Results
Mutagenesis of the Igf.1 and Igflr Loci
Mature IGF-I is a 70 amino acid, single-chain polypeptide,
consisting of domains S (amino acids 1-29), C (amino
acids 30--41), A (amino acids 42-62), and D (amino acids
63-70), whose folding is stabilized by three intrachain disulfide bridges (see Figure 1B). Experiments analyzing
the binding affinities of synthetic IGF-I analogs to IGF1R
have identified tyrosines 24, 31, and 60 as critical residues
for the ligand-receptor interaction (Bayne et al., 1990).
The last four amino acids of domain B, and all the remaining domains, are encoded by a single exon (exon 4;
Hall et al., 1992). To generate a null mutation, we designed
a targeting vector that would delete a portion of exon 4
(Figure 1A). Successful targeting would abolish the func-
tion of IGF-I, because of the elimination of residues 5170, including the important Tyr-60, and removal of two of
the disulfide bonds (Figure 1B).
To generate a null mutation of the Igflr gene, we designed a targeting vector that would delete part of exon
3 (Abbott et al., 1992), which encodes the major portion
of the cysteine-rich ligand-binding domain (Figure 2A).
To construct replacement vectors for mutagenesis and
identification of targeted embryonic stem (ES) cells by application of a positive-negative selection protocol (Mansour et al., 1988), we used fragments of genomic clones
and transcriptionally competent cassettes of the bacterial
neomycin-resistance gene (neo) and the herpes simplex
virus thymidine kinase gene (tk). The final constructs (described in detail in Experimental Procedures) are shown in
Figures 1A and 2C. tn each case, linearized replacement
vector DNA was introduced into recipient ES ceils by electroporation, and the cells were seeded and selected with
drugs on feeder layers of STO fibroblasts. Successful targeting events were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and verified by Southern analyses (Figures 1C and 2D). Targeted clones with a euploid karyotype
were injected into host blastocysts from the MF1 and
C57BL/6J mouse strains to generate germline chimeras.
After transmission of the mutations, intercrosses between heterozygous progeny, either Igf-l(+/-) or Igflr
(+/-), yielded corresponding homozygous mutants. The
same heterozygotes were also used in a breeding program
that included/gf-2(p-) m utants (DeChiara et al., 1990), to
obtain all possible combinations of double mutants. The
phenotypic manifestations of the mutations are described
Igf-1 and Igflr Null Mutations
61
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ECORZ
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(M)
C P S V C G K R A C T E N N E C C H P E C L G S C H
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P~II
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ACACCGGACGAC~CACAACCTGCGTGGCCTGCAGACACTACTACTACAAAGGCGTGTGTGTGCCTGCCTGCCCGCCT
G T Y R F E G W R C V D R D F C A N I P N A E S S D
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S D G F V I H D D E C M Q E C P S G F I R N S T Q ( S )
~GGATGGCTTCGTTA~CACGACGATGAGTGCATGCAGGAGTG~CCTCAGGCTTCATCCGCAACAGCACCCAGAG
gtcagcggctcttgtccctaggcccaggagggttctctgctgcatagcccctaagtgtaggacctcccaggggttcac
AvrZI
ccagatg~gtctgtcagagggtgatggctgagcttgttttaatgc~aatcttggagtggttgggtctgtttcagcttg
Figure 2. Targetingof the MouseIgflr Locus
(A) Diagramof the structure of the IGF1Rprecursor (adaptedfrom UIIrichet al., 1986).The
segments encodedby exons 1-21 (El-E21),
as assignedfor the humanIgflr gene (Abbott
et al., 1992),are indicated.(B) Nucleotidesequence of the targeted mouse Igflr exon 3,
encodingthe majorportionof the cysteine-rich
domainshownin (/%).(C) Restrictionmapof the
wild-typeIgflr locus(top)in the regionof exons
3 and 4 (E3 and E4) that was targeted(bottom)
using a replacementvector (middle).The restriction sites are: Hindlll (H), EcoRI(E), Hincll
(Hc), Pvull (P), Avrll (A), BamHI (B), Sail (S),
and Xhol (X). BIA is a BamHI/Avrllhybridsite.
(D) Southernanalysisof Hincll-digestedgenomic DNAfrom a nontargetedclone(laneN) and
sevendifferenttargetedES cell lines(all other
lanes).The sizesof fragments(in kb) hybridizing to the probeshownin the bottomof (C) are
indicated.Thesizemarkers(laneM)are Hindlll
fragments of phage ~. DNA.
gcttttt~atttctaaactttgagggtgccttgctagc
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Probe
below, beginning with the most pleiotropic/gflr mutation,
while a detailed developmental analysis of the impact of
the mutations on growth kinetics is presented in the accompanying paper (Baker et al., 1993 [this issue of Ce//]).
Igflr(-I-) Mutants: Dwarfism and
Neonatal Lethality
The heterozygous Igfl~+/-) progeny derived from male
germline chimeras did not exhibit any discernible phenotype, while in several litters of offspring derived from intercrosses between animals heterozygous for the mutation,
the severely growth-deficient neonates that we recovered
were always inviable. The birthweight of these pups was
approximately 45% of that of their wild-type littermates
(Figure 3C). Subsequent genotyping showed that these
inviable dwarfs were homozygous Igfl"~-I-) mutants.
In contrast with the invariable phenotypo of Igfl~-I-)
mutants, which was manifested in both inbred and outbred
genetic backgrounds and in animals derived from 2 independently targeted clones, the F2 heterozygotes were
phenotypically normal (Figure 3A), regardless of the paternal or maternal transmission of the mutated allele. Surprisingly, quantitative Northern analysis of poiy(A)÷ RNA from
E16.5 and E18.5 whole embryos, using an Igflr exon 3
probe, has indicated reproducibly that there is no difference in the level of steady-state Igflr mRNA between her-
erozygous mutants and wild-type littermates (data not
shown). The mechanism compensating for the reduction
of the gene dosage by half is unknown. Parallel analysis
of RNA from Igflr(-I-) mutant embryos was negative for
hybridization, as expected.
To ascertain whether the targeted Igflr gene represented a null allele, we cultured primary embryonic fibroblasts from E14.5 wild-type, Igflr(+l-), and Igflr(-I-) littermates and assayed for the presence of functional
IGF1R in a membrane protein fraction that was purified
by binding to wheat germ agglutinin (see Oemar et al.,
1991). Neither cross-linking of biotinylated IGF-I to the a
subunit of IGFIR nor ligand-dependent autophosphorylation of the IGF1R I~ subunit was observed with the wheat
germ agglutinin-bound fraction from the Igflr(-I-) mutants, while positive results were obtained with the two
control extracts (data not shown).
Igflr(-/-) Mutants: Anatomical and Histological
Analyses and Comparison with Igf.2(p-) Mutants
Respiratory Failure at Birth
Close monitoring at birth indicated that the Igflr(-I-)
dwarfs were born alive but, despite visible efforts to
breathe, became cyanotic and died within minutes. Lung
tissue dissected from several mutant neonates obtained
from independent litters failed to float on water, indicating
Cell
62
C
I/
R
Figure 3. Mutant Mice
(A) GenotypedE17.5embryosof the same litter: wild-type(w), heterozygous(h), and homozygous(r) for the Igflr gene mutation.The phenotypically
indistinguishablewild-type and heterozygousembryos differ from the homozygousmutants not only in size, but also in the appearance of the
skin, which is significantlymore opaque. (B and C) Littersof genotypedE16.5embryosand newbornmice, respectively,includingfour phenotypes:
wild-type (W) animals, Igf-2(p-) mutants (11),Igflr(-/-) mutants (R), and Igf-2(p-)/Igflr(-/-) double mutants (II/R). ((3) A litter of E17.5 embryos:
wild-type ON),Igf-l(-/-) mutant (I), Igfo20o-) mutant (11),and Igf.l(-I-)llgf-2(p-) double mutant (1111).The translucent skin of the double mutant is
notable. The photographic enlargementsof the panels are not proportionalto one another.
that air never reached the alveoli. The primary cause of
this respiratory failure is unknown at present. Histopathological examination revealed no particular lung abnormalities that could explain the observed atelectasis that leads
to asphyxia. Thus, no structural block was evident in the
bronchi, bronchioles, or upper respiratory tract, while the
alveolar epithelium in neonates and E16.5-E18.5 homozygous mutant embryos was indistinguishable from that of
normal littermates (Figures 4A and 4B). Moreover, immunostaining for surfactant apoprotein in sections of mutant
and wild-type E18.5 embryos and parallel quantitation by
Western analysis (using an antibody provided by G. Singh)
yielded indistinguishable results (data not shown). This
suggests that the inability to breathe cannot be attributed
to a primary inability of the lungs to expand.
Muscle Hypoplasla
The reduced body weight of these mutant mice seems to
be a consequence of a decrease in tissue cell number
(hypoplasia) and not in cell size, since comparisons of
cell dimensions in muscle, liver, and lung between E17.5
wild-type and Igflr(-I-) embryos revealed no statistically
significant differences (data not shown). It is possible that
the failure of the mutants to breathe is due to muscle hypoplasia. Examination of a number of muscle groups in
E16.5-E18.5 wild-type and mutant littermates showed that
the mutation had affected the number of myocytes. For
example, each of the three layers of the anterolateral abdominal muscle was 4 to 8 cells thick in wild-type embryos,
while the number of cells did not exceed 1 or 2 in mutant
littermates (Figure 4C). A similar reduction in the number
of myocytes in mutant animals was also observed in muscles of the neck and limbs and in respiratory muscles (intercostal muscles and diaphragm; Figures 4D and 4E). However, we do not yet have an accurate assessment of
whether the hypoplasia of muscles is comparable to the
generalized hypoplasia observed in all organs of these
growth-deficient embryos or if it is disproportionately severe. We noted that the muscle cells of the mutants
appeared to be normal, according to limited qualitative
assays for the expression of muscle-specific markers
(Figure 4).
Impact of the Mutation on the Nervous System
Examination of the central nervous system in Igflr(-I-)
mutants revealed a morphological deviation from wild type
Igf-1 and Igflr Null Mutations
63
Figure 4. Histological Comparison of Wild-Type and Igflr(-I-) Mutant Embryos
(A and 13) The lung of a mutant neonate (B), examined in a specimen fixed immediately after death, is atelectatic but does not differ histologically
from the ventilated and expanded lung of a wild-type littermate (A).
(C-E) Examples of muscle hypoplasia in E17.5 mutant embryos, compared with wild-type littermates. The dotted lines in (C) indicate the borders
(from left to right) of the external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus muscles of the abdominal wall. The diaphragm (d) and the intercostal
muscles (i) are shown in (D) and (E). Despite the marked hypeplasia in the mutants, reverse transcription PCR assays for transcripts of muscle
creatine kinase, MyoD, myogenin, mrf-4, myf-5, and cardiac actin did not reveal qualitative differences from controls, while a quantitative difference
in myosin heavy chain was not detected by Western blot analysis with the NF;20 antibody using the same amount of protein extract from the
upper trunk (without viscera) of mutant and control embryos (data not shown; PCR primers and NF-20 were provided by J. Lee and H. Weintraub).
Also, differences from wild-type in the size and/or distribution of nerves, of a magnitude sufficient to explain muscle hypoplasia on the basis of
inadequate neurotrophic functions, were not detected in the mutants by crystal violet and silver staining or immunostaining for synaptophysin and
neurofilament proteins (not shown).
(F and G) The cellular density in the mantle zone of the spinal cord is higher in the mutant than in the wild-type (IG]; compare with IF]; transverse
sections of the spinal cord of E17.5 littermates at the level of the heart; ventral to dorsal, top to bottom of the figure).
(H and I) A higher cellular density is also evident in the brain stem of the mutants ([I]; compare with [H]; coronal sections at the level of the fourth
ventricle, v, in E14.5 embryos).
W, wild-type; R, mutant.
Cell
64
Figure 5. Skin Histology
(A-D) Histologicalcomparisonsof the epidermis in E16.5littermates(sectionsat the level of the kidney, dorsalto the spinal cord); wild-typeembryo
ON), Igflr(-/-) mutant (R), Igf-2(p-.-) mutant (It), and Igf.2(p-)/Igflr(-/-) double mutant (ll/R). (E and F) Wild-type and Igflr(-I-) mutant littermates
are also compared at E18.5 (sectionsat the level of the liver, dorsal to the spinal cord). Of the strata of the epidermis (b, basale; s, spinosum; g,
granulosum; and c, corneum), the spinous layer is particularlythin in the mutant. ((3 and H) These panels are analogousto sections (E) and (F),
respectively,but at a lower magnification,to showthe differencein hair follicle (h) numberand spacingbetweenwild-typeand Igflr(-I-) littermates
(sections of the abdominal wall at the level of the intestine).(J-M) Comparison of the epidermis in E18.5 littermates: wild-type embryo (W), Igf-1
(-I-) mutant (I), Igf-2(p-) mutant (11),and Igf-l(-/-)/Igf-2(p-) double mutants (I/ll) (level of sections as in [A-DI). The strata of the epidermis do
not differ between the wild-type and the two single mutants, but in the double mutant the epidermis is underdevelopedand is charectedzed by
a very thin spinous layer.
that was not detected in Igf-2(p-) mutants. In transverse
sections of the spinal cord of E14.5-E18.5 Igflr(-/-) embryos at various levels, we observed that the cellular density in the mantle zone was significantly higher in mutant
than in wild-type littermates (Figures 4F and 4G). Preliminary counting of cells has suggested that the ratio of mutant to wild-type cell densities is progressively reduced
with developmental age, being 1.7, 1.5, and 1.2, at E16.5,
E17.5, and E18.5, respectively. At the current level of analysis, we think that the increase in cell density corresponds
not to an absolute increase in cell number, but rather to
crowding of neural cells in the mutants, resulting from a
reduction in the amount of the surrounding neuropil (i.e.,
neuronal fibers and cytoplasm of neuroglial cells). More
limited data suggest that the increase in cell density also
occurs in the brainstem of the mutant mice (Figures 4H
and 41).
While a detailed histopathological analysis of the nervous system of Igflr(-I-) mutants is pending, the following
preliminary observation is notable (S. Newman and J.
Goldman, personal communication). Culturing of E18.5
forebrain cells from Igflr(-/-) embryos and wild-type controis has indicated that significantly fewer oligodendrocyte
progenitors of the mutants develop to a stage that can
be recognized by the specific 01 marker (Sommer and
Schachner, 1981).
Impact of the Mutation on Skin Development
The Igflr(-I-) mutant embryos (see Figures 3A and 3B)
and neonates (see Figure 3C) differed in appearance from
their wild-type littermates because their skin, instead of
being opaque, was significantly more translucent, Histological examination revealed that of the strata of the epidermis (basale, spinosum, granulosum, and corneum), the
stratum spinosum was extremely thin in the mutants, con-
Igf-1 and Igflr Null Mutations
65
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Figure 6. Bone Development
In the first three rows, the first appearance of ossification centers is compared between wild-type embryos (W), Igf-2(p-) mutants (11),and Igflr
(-/-) mutants (R). Examples of developmental delays are indicated (also see text). Each of the developmental ages at which littermates were
examined is shown at the bottom of the third row (N denotes neonates). The skeletons of Igf-2(p-)/Igflr(-I-) double mutant (II/R) littarmates (E18.5
embryo and neonate) are shown in the fourth row (left), for comparison, The oss!fication centers of the frontal (f) and parietal (p) bones, and also
of the nasal (n) bone, are present in the wild-type E14.5 and E16.5 specimens, respectively, although they are not evident in this reproduction
(arrowheads without lettering). The ossification centers of the interparietal (i) and supraoccipital (s) bones are as indicated. In Igflr(-I-) mutants,
a 1 day delay in ossification was observed in the bones of the trunk and of the extremities, except for the following bones: clavicle, ribs, femur,
hyoid bone, body of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae, diaphyses of the radius and the ulna, metacarpals, and. metatarsals (2 day delay). In
forelimbs and hindlimbs, ossification of the digits, which in wild-type embryos appears at E 17.5, was not observed in Igflr(-I-) neonates. In Igf-2(p-)
mutants, a one-day developmental delay was noted in hyoid, cervical and lumbar vertebrae, radius, ulna, femur, digits, nasal bone, and all cranial
bones, apart from the frontal and temporal bones. In the examined specimes of double mutants (IIIR), ossification of the supraoccipital bone was
detected only at birth, while in wild-type controls and in single Igf-2(p-) and Igflr(-I-) mutants, ossification occurred at E16.5, E17.5, and E18.5,
respectively. The newborn double mutant did not exhibit commencement of ossification in the interparietal bone, the body of the cervical vertebrae,
the metacarpals, metatarsals, and digits. The skeletons of 3 newborn littermates, Igf-1(-/-) mutant (I), Igf-2(p-) mutant (11),and Igf-l(-I-)llgf-2(p-)
double mutant (1111),are shown in the fourth row (right).
Cell
66
Table 1. SurvivalFrequencyof Igf-l(-I-) Mutants
Cross
Litters
Mice
Born
1291Sv x 1291Sv
C57BL/6J x 129/Sv
MF1 x 1291Sv
19
20
9
102
148
87
Homozygous
Mutants
(% of total)
Neonatal
Deaths
Survivors(%
of homozygous
mutants)
20 (20%)
32 (22%)
22 (25%)
18
27
7
2 (10%)
5 (16%)
15 (68%)
The expectedfrequencyof 25% homozygousmutantswas also observedin embryos.Among 138 genotypedembryosfrom 22 litters,33 (24%)
were wild type, 71 (51%)were heterozygotes,and 34 (25%)were homozygotes.
sisting of fewer cells than in normal animals (compare
Figures 5A and 5B and also Figures 5E and 5F). Moreover,
in the skin of mutant embryos, there was a marked decrease in the absolute number of hair follicles, which were
smaller and more widely spaced than in wild-type controls
(Figures 5G and 6H). These differences from wild-type
were not detected in Igf-2(p-) mutants (Figure 5C; compare with Figure 5A).
Delayed Bone Development
We performed a detailed developmental analysis of the
appearance of ossification centers in E14.5-E18.5 embryos and neonates by comparing the skeletons of Igflr
( - / - ) mutants, Igf-2(p-) mutants, and wild-type littermates
after staining with alcian blue and alizarin red (Figure 6;
McLeod, 1980). To simplify the description of this analysis,
we did not take into account the degree to which ossification had progressed, but rather used a qualitative criterion,
scoring for the first appearance of particular ossification
centers.
We observed that the ossification centers of cranial and
facial bones appeared later in Igflr(-I-) embryos than in
wild-type controls after a lag of about 2 embryonic days,
with the exception of the interparietal bone, which exhibited an even longer delay ( - 4 days; Figure 6). The developmental delay in the bones of the trunk and extremities
was 1-2 days (Figure 6).
In the same comparison performed between Igf-2(p-)
mutants and wild-type controls, either the timing in the
appearance of ossification centers in the mutants was normal or the delay in ossification did not exceed I embryonic
day (see Figures 6).
Igf.l(-I-) Mutants: Dwarfism and Variable Survival
The heterozygous Igf-1(+/-) progeny of male germline chimeras did not display any obvious phenotypic difference
from wild-type littermates, while in the litters obtained from
intercrossas of these heterozygotes, about 25% of the
recovered neonates exhibited a birthweight approximately
60% of norma~.Subsequent genotyping showed that Without exception these dwarf mice were Igf-l(-I-) mutants,
while the heterozygous F2 progeny were phenotypically
normal, regardless of the paternal or maternal transmission of the mutated allele.
Some of the newborn Igf-l(-I-) mutants were found
dead. However, close monitoring of births revealed that
these animals were born alive and that most of them were
able to breathe. Observations of several litters indicated
that neonatal death usually occurred between 15 rain and
6 hr after birth. The cause of this neonatal lethality is unknown.
Interestingly, some of the Igf-l(-I-) mutants survived
to adulthood, at a variable frequency that depended on
genetic background (Table 1). Thus, when inbred 1291Sv
Igf-l(+l-) mice or (C57BL/6J x 129/Sv) F1 hybrids were
intercrossed, only 10% and 16% of the homozygous mutant progeny survived, respectively. In contrast, 68% of
the Igf-l(-I-) mutant offspring obtained from crosses between (MF1 x 129/Sv) F1 hybrids reached adulthood.
Pooled sera from adult Igf-l(-I-) mutants and control sera
from wild-type mice were examined for the presence of
immunoreactive IGF-I (serum is the richest source for this
polypeptide; see Daughaday and Rotwein, 1989). Measurements by radioimmunoassay using a polyclonal antibody against human IGF-I indicated that the serum level
of IGF-I was below detection limits in the mutants (data
not shown). The postnatal growth of surviving Igf-l(-I-)
mutants is described in the accompanying paper (Baker
et al., 1993).
Because of the delays in ossification and the underdevelopment of the epidermis observed in Igflr(-I-) mutants, the same tissues were examined in Igf-l(-/-) mutants for comparison. Their epidermis, like that of the
Igf-2(p-) mutants, appeared normal (see Figures 5K and
5L), while ossification was only slightly delayed and did
not differ from that of Igf-2(p-) mutants (Figure 6, bottom).
Igflr(-I-) Mutants and Igf.l(-/-)llgflr(-/-) Double
Mutants Are Phenotypically Indistinguishable
We reasoned that if IGF-I interacts exclusivelywith IGF1 R,
the phenotype of Igf-l(-I-)llgflr ( - / - ) double mutants
should be indistinguishable from that of the Igflr (-I-)
single mutation. Our prediction about this genetic cross
proved true. From appropriate crosses, we obtained litters
of offspring that included such single and double mutant
siblings, all of which died immediately after birth of respiratory failure and were phenotypically indistinguishable in
terms of birthweight (45% of normal) and bone development (data not shown). This is strong genetic evidence
that the IGF.I ligand does not utilize any receptor other
than IGF1R.
Phenotype of Igf.2(p-)llgflr(-I-) Double Mutants
Using the same rationale described above for IGF-I, we
next examined genetically the potential IGF-II-IGFIR interaction in vivo. For this purpose, we intercrossed mice
carrying the Igflr and Igf-2 mutations and relied on meiotic
Igf-1 and Igflr Null Mutations
67
recombination events to generate Igf-2(p-)llgflr(-I-) double mutants, since both the Igflr and Igf-2 genes, although
not closely linked, reside on mouse chromosome 7 (in the
center and distal regions of the chromosome, respectively,
at a genetic distance of approximately 41 cM; see Zemel
et al., 1992; Hillyard et al., 1993).
The newborn mice obtained from these matings (described in detail in Experimental Procedures) fell into four
distinct phenotypic categories (see Figure 3C): wild-type
animals, viable dwarfs with body weight 60°/0of normal
(Igf-2(p-) mutants), inviable dwarfs with 450/0 normal weight
(Igrlr(-I-) mutants), and dwarfs with 30% normal weight,
which also died immediately after birth of respiratory failure. Genotyping showed that the animals in the last category were Igf-2(p-)llgflr(-/-) double mutants.
The significantly more pronounced dwarfism observed
in double mutants, in comparison with Igflr(-I-) mutants,
did not fulfill the prediction of the genetic cross, but rather
provided evidence that an unknown receptor(s), which we
call XR, is involved in IGF-II growth-promoting signal transduction. Thus, we could not distinguish from these results
alone whether IGF-II interacts in vivo exclusively with XR
or binds to both XR and IGF1R.
When Igf-2(p-)llgflr(-I-) double mutant embryos (see
Figure 3B) were examined histologically, the results did
not reveal any underdevelopment of the epidermis beyond
that observed in Igflr(-I-) single mutants (see Figure 5D;
compare with Figure 5B). Moreover, the central nervous
system of the double mutants exhibited the same high
cellular density observed in Igflr(-I-) mutants (data not
shown). However, the delays in bone development were
somewhat more pronounced in two specimens of Igf2(p-)llgflr(-I-) double mutants (see Figure 6, bottom)
than in Igflr(-I-) mutants. This difference can be attributed to developmental variability (see below).
Phenotype of Igf.l(-I-)llgf.2(p-) Double Mutants
To investigate further the developmental roles of IGF-I and
IGF-II, we generated mice null for both Igf-1 and Igf-2 (see
Experimental Procedures). F2 progeny were obtained
from matings between males heterozygous for both the
Igf-1 and Igf-2 mutations and females heterozygous for
the Igf-I mutation. Among these newborn mice, in addition
to wild-type animals and the expected Igf-2(p-) and Igf1(-/-) mutants (both about 60% of normal weight), we
obtained severely growth-deficient progeny with 30% normal body weight that died shortly after birth of respiratory
failure. According to genotyping, these inviable 30°/0normal offspring were Igf-l(-/-)/Igf-2(p-) double mutants.
These results (see also Discussion) indicate that absence
of both IGF-I and IGF-II results in a compound phenotype
of dwarfism and neonatal lethalitythat is indistinguishable
from the phenotype of Igf.2(p-)llgflr(-/-) double mutants.
When E17.5 and E18.5 Igf-l(-/-)/Igf-2(p-) double mutant
embryos (see Figure 3D) were examined histologically,
analysis of the epidermis (see Figure 5M) showed that it
exhibits the same underdevelopment in the stratum spinosum as that observed in Igflr(-/-) mutants and Igf-2(p-)/
Igflr(-I-) double mutants. Moreover, the skeletons of Igfl(-I-)llgf-2(p-) double mutant neonates (see Figure 6,
bottom) exhibited the same developmental delays in the
ossification of particular bones as the Igflr(-/-) mutants.
A comparison between Igf-l(-I-)/Igf-2(p-) and Igf-2(p-)l
Igflr(-/-) double mutant littermates did not reveal differences in ossification delays in some litters, while in other
litters, we observed further retardation in the latter mutants
that can apparently be ascribed to developmental variability.
Discussion
A major conclusion from our genetic data is that IGF-I,
in addition to its previously known postnatal role, is also
involved in embryonic processes of growth and, potentially, differentiation. This is direct evidence demonstrating
that IGF-I has a continuous function throughout development and is not merely a factor that assumes postnatally
the growth promoting role played by IGF-II during rodent
embryogenesis. An additional important conclusion of this
genetic study is that Igflr is an essential gene, since we
demonstrated that, at least in mice, the presence of functional IGF1R is indispensable for normal embryonic development and survival after birth. Notably, the neonatal lethality observed in Igflr(-I-) mutant mice is invariable and
independent of the genetic background of the tested
strains. Finally, on the basis of direct and indirect evidence
(see below), we conclude that IGF1R mediates the in vivo
signaling of both IGF ligands, while IGF-II utilizes an additional receptor.
In Vivo Signaling of the IGFs via IGFIR
Our comparisons between the phenotypes of the single
and double mutants studied (summarized in Table 2) show
the Igf-l(-/-)/Igf-2(p-) and Igf-2(p-)/Igflr(-/-) double mutants to be identical. Thus, within the framework of the
examined mutational effects, all ligand-receptor interactions have been accounted for. Moreover, the data allow
the interpretation that both the IGF-I and IGF-II ligands
interact with IGFIR in embryos, as they do in cell culture
(see Introduction). In the case of IGF-I, the evidence is
direct and unequivocal because of the phenotypic identity
between Igflr(-/-) single mutants and Igf-l(-/-)/Igflr
( - / - ) double mutants, demonstrating that IGF-I interacts
exclusively with IGF1R. However, the phenotype of Igf-1
( - / - ) mutants is less severe than that of Igflr(-/-) mutants
and Igf-1(-I-)/Igflr(-I-) double mutants. From this comparison, one can deduce that IGF1R should also interact
with IGF-II. Direct evidence that this is indeed the case
was derived from the study of developmental growth kinetics (see Baker et al., 1993). Finally, from the comparison
showing the dwarfism of Igf-2(p-)/Igflr(-/-) double mutants to be significantly more pronounced than that of either single mutation, it was inferred that IGF-II also interacts with an unknown receptor (XR; discussed further by
Baker et al., 1993).
Because of the phenotypic disparity between the invariable neonatal lethality of the Igflr(-I-) mutants and the
viability of the Igf-2(p-) mutants, the indispensable functions impaired by the receptor mutation must be mostly
attributable to a disruption of the IGF-I-IGF1R interaction.
Cell
68
Table2. Summaryof MutantPhenotypes
Genotype
Birthweight
(% of normal)
Neonatal
Lethality
DelayedOssification
(embryosor neonates)
Underdeveloped
Epidermis(embryos)
Igf-l(-I-)
/gf-2¢o-)
Igflr(-/-)
Igf-l(-I-)llgf-2(p-)
Igf-l(-I-)llgflr(-t-)
Igf-2(p-)llgflr(-/-)
60
60
45
30
45
30
±
+
+
+
+
±
±
+
+
+
+
+
+
ND
+
ND, not determined.
However, the concomitant absence of an IGF-II-IGF1R
interaction may be aggravating the I g f l r ( - I - ) phenotype,
since some Igf-l(-I-) mutants survive to adulthood, while
the death of the remaining neonates is not due to respiratory failure in the majority of cases.
Variations in expressivity, manifested as variability either in phenotypic effects or in survival, have also been
observed in other mouse mutations, for example, in null
mutations of the genes Wnt-1 (Thomas et al., 1991), Hox3.1 (Le Mouellic et al., 1992), and c-los (Johnson et al.,
1992). This phenomenon is often attributed to differences
in genetic background and random assortment of alleles
of modifying genes affecting a phenotype (see Thomas et
al., 1991). The fact that the variability in neonatal lethality
observed in Igf-1(-I-) mutants is mouse strain-dependent
is consistent with this view. Interestingly, an analogous
dependence of neonatal lethality on genetic background
was previously noted in mice carrying the diminutive (dm)
dwarfing mutation (Stevens and Mackensen, 1958). Thus,
to account for the apparent discrepancy between the
I g f l r ( - / - ) and I g f - l ( - / - ) phenotypes, we propose that as
long as IGF1R is present, IGF-II is sometimes able to compensate for unknown but essential functions of the absent
IGF-I that are variably affected by other factors (modifiers).
On the other hand, the absence of both IGF-I and IGF-II
or the ablation of IGF1R results in perinatal lethality.
Is IGF-I Involved in Cell Differentiation?
As the cause of the neonatal lethality of I g f l r ( - I - ) mutants
remains obscure, it is not possible at present to assess
whether the yet unidentified indispensable functions that
IGF-I presumably cannot fulfill in the absence of IGF1R
are distinct from its mitogenic activity and are related to
embryonic cell differentiation. Preliminary data that we cite
(see Results) are consistent with the possibility that IGF-I
acts as a survival factor for oligodendrocyte precursors in
embryos, as it does in culture (Barres et,al., 1992). Nevertheless, to the degree that the mutations have been analyzed, the plausible candidacy of IGF-I as an embryonic
differentiation factor is only a useful working hypothesis,
because we did not detect any phenotypic abnormalities
that could be considered differentiation defects in a strict
sense. Thus, we did not observe recognizable pathological
changes in any tissue, such as disorganization, while the
major apparent differences from wild-type that we detected can largely be interpreted as due to developmental
delays.
In regard to bone development, only a slight retardation
in the degree of ossification was noted in I g f - l ( - I - ) neonates, indistinguishable from that observed in Igf-2 null
mutants, while neither of these mutations alone had any
convincingly recognizable effect on the development of
the epidermis. The previously mentioned hypothesis that,
in the presence of intact IGF1 R, each ligand can compensate to a significant degree for the absence of the other
can also explain the visible differences between the Igf-1
and Igf-2 null mutants and the more severe phenotypes
manifested in I g f l r ( - I - ) and all double mutants. In the
latter cases, our observations indicate that the bone differentiation program is not perturbed per se, but rather proceeds at a slower pace. This type of retardation might
not be exactly analogous to the difference from wild-type
observed in the developing skin of these mutants. Overall,
the/gflr(-I-) and the double mutant embryos resemble
younger wild-type specimens in the timing of appearance
of ossification centers, while their epidermis never acquires wild-type morphology in terms of numbers of spinous cell layers and hair follicles.
Skin development illustrates an apparent correlation between the pattern of Igflr gene expression and the phenotypic effects of the corresponding mutation. IGF1R localized exclusively in the basal layer of human skin has been
detected by immunostaining (Krane et al., 1991), and
Northern analysis has demonstrated the presence of Igflr
mRNA in cultured human keratinocytes (Tavakkol et al.,
1992). Interestingly, keratinocytes could grow in a defined
medium in the presence of a combination of epidermal
growth factor and IGF-I, while neither growth factor alone
was effective (Krane et al., 1991). In rat embryos, in situ
hybridization analyses have shown that both Igf-1 and Igf-2
transcripts are present in the dermis but not the epidermis
(Bondy et al., 1990; Ayer-LeLievre et al., 1991). From these
observations, in conjunction with our in vivo data, we speculate that during skin development, IGF ligands produced
in the dermis might participate in epidermal cell proliferation in a paracrine fashion by binding to IGFIR present
on the surface of cells in the basal layer.
The Igf.1 and Igflr Genes Are Not Imprinted
In contrast with null mutants, progeny heterozygous for
the Igf-1 and Igflr mutations are phenotypically normal,
regardless of the parental legacy of their mutated allele.
Thus, unlike the Igf.2 and Igf2r loci, which are subject
to reciprocal parental imprinting (DeChiara et al., 1991;
Barlow et al., 1991), the/gf-1 and Igflr genes are not imprinted. In a previous study using reverse transcription
Igf-1 and Igflr Null Mutations
69
P C R a s s a y s , /gflr t r a n s c r i p t s w e r e d e t e c t e d in n o r m a l ,
b u t not p a r t h e n o g e n e t i c , m o u s e e m b r y o s f r o m t h e 8-cell
s t a g e o n w a r d s , l e a d i n g to t h e s u g g e s t i o n t h a t t h e Igflr
g e n e is i m p r i n t e d ( R a p p o l e e et aL, 1992). In v i e w o f o u r
results, this i n t e r p r e t a t i o n is not t e n a b l e .
Experimental Procedures
Construction of Replacement Veotora
To construct a vector for targeting of the Igf-1 gene, we first screened
a mouse genomic library with a rat IGF-I cDNA (J. Welsh and A. E.,
unpublished data) and isolated a phage ~. clone containing a 14.4 kb
DNA fragment that included exon 4 of the Igf- 1 gsne, as demonstrated
by restriction mapping and partial sequencing data that agreed with
previous partial characterizations of this genomic region (Mathews
et al,, 1986; Tollefsan et al., 1989). A replacement vector was then
constructed from subcloned genomic fragments in several steps. The
final product (cloned into pBluascript SK+; Stratagene) consists of
a 1.85 kb XhoI-Hindlll fragment from plasmid pMCltk (tk cassette;
provided by K. Thomas and M. Capecchi), a 1.0 kb SpeI-BspEI fragment of Igfol genomic sequence (ending after the first 74 bp of exon
4), a neo cassette (a 1.1 kb XhoI-BamHI fragment from pMClpola;
Stratagsne), and a 5.7 kb PvuI-Kpnl/of-/fragment (beginning 7 bp
after the 5' splice site of the intron downstream of exon 4). Thus, a
BspEI-Pvul Igf- 1 fragment (119 bp) was replaced with the neo cassette,
which was positioned in the targeting vector in the same transcriptional
orientation as the tk cassette and the remnant of exon 4.
To construct a vector for Igflr gene targeting, a mouse genomic
library was screened with a 380 bp probe isolated from the rat rig F1R-4
cDNA clone 0Nerner et al., 1989) that included the last 240 bp of exon
3 and the first 140 bp of exon 4 (from a Pvull site to the end of the
available sequence). We isolated s phage ;L clone containg a 17 kb
DNA fragment that included exon 3 (313 bp) of t h e / g f l r gene, as
shown by restriction mapping and partial DNA sequencing (see Figure
2B). From subcloned gsnomic fragments, a replacement vector was
constructed (into pGEM3Z; Promega Corporation), consisting of a 5'
genomic fragment (4.5 kb, from a Sail site to a Pvull site, converted
to a Xhol site by attachment of a linker) that retained the first 73 bp
of exon 3; the 1.1 kb XhoI-BamHf neo cassette; a downstream Igflr
genomic fragment (AvrlI-BamHI; - 0 . 7 5 kb); and the 1.85 kb XholHindlll tk cassette. Thus, a PvulI-Avrit Igflr fragment containing the
3' terminal portion of exon 3 (240 bp) and 17 bp of the downstream
intron sequence were replaced with the neo cassette positioned in the
same transcriptional orientation as the tk cassette and the endogenous
/gfl r gsne.
Gene Targeting in ES Cells
CCE ES cells (passages 11 and 13 for Igf-1 and Igflrtargeting, respectively) were grown to 80%-90% confluence on mitomycin C-treated
G418-resistant STO cell feeder layers (Robertson, 1987) in Dulbecco's
modified Eagle's medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum, 10%
newborn calf serum, and 0.1 mM 13-mercaptoethanol at 37°C, 5% CO2.
A total of 8 (Igf- 1) and 25 {Igflr) electroporations were performed, using
per experiment 2 x 107 to 2.5 x 107 cells in 0.5 ml of phosphatebuffered saline (Specialty Media) and 20 p.g of Sacll4inearized Igf-1
replacement vector DNA or 16 p.g of Sall-lineerized Igflr replacement
vector DNA in a 0.4 cm cuvette of a Bio-Rad gene pulser set at 220
V, 960 p.F. Cells from each cuvette were then equally'distributed on
three 10 cm feeder plates. G418 (200 p.g/ml effective concentration;
Sigma) was added 48 hr after plating. For double selection, gancyclovir
(2 pM) was added to some of the plates 72 hr after the addition of
G418. Resistant ES clones were picked into 24-microwell plates coated
with feeder STO fibroblasts. After expansion, each clone was split into
2 wells. One of these samples was frozen, while the other was used
for DNA analysis. On average, in the Igf.1 experiment, 33% of the
G418-resistant colonies were also resistant to gancyclovir, and 1.2%
of these were homologous recombinants (3 clones, all possessing a
normal complement of chromosomes). In the Igflr experiment, resistance to both drugs was observed in 18% of the G418-resistant colonies, and 1.7% of these were homologous recombinants (9 clones).
Six of the targeted clones had a euploid karyotype.
ES Celt DNA Analysis
After aspiration of the medium and washing with phosphete-bufferad
saline, 500 p.Jof lysis buffer (50 mM Tds--HCI [pH 7.5], 100 mM NaCI,
50 mM EDTA, 0.5 mM spermidine, 5 mM dithiothraitol, 1% SDS, and
400 pg/ml proteinase K) was added to each well of the plates containing
confluent ES cells. The lysate was transferred to a 1.5 ml Eppendorf
tube and incubated at 55°C overnight. Cell lysatss from 10 clones (40
pl each) were pooled, extracted with phenol and chloroform, and the
DNA was precipitated after addition of 100 ~l of 10 M ammonium
acetate and 400 p.I of isopropanol. The pellet was resuspended in 400
id of Tris-EDTA, and 1 p.I of this solution was used for PCR analysis.
Each PCR reaction contained 50 pmol of each primer, 200 pM dNTPs,
10 mM Tris-HCI (pH 8.3), 50 mM KCI, 1.5 mM MgCI~, 0,1 mg/ml gelatin,
and 1.25 U of Taq polymerase (Boehringer Mannheim) in a final volume
of 50 Id.
The assays for Igf.1 targeting were performed with the primers
5'-TGCGCTGACAGCCGGAACAC-3' (neo; located at a distance of
450 bp from the beginning of the cassette) and 5'-CTGCCACTTAGCTCTCTGCC-3' (Igt-1 locus sequence; lying on genomic DNA,
upstream of the 5' Spel site present on the replacement vector). PCR
cycling was for 1 rain at 94°C, 1 rain at 60°C, and 1 rain at 72°C for
25 cycles. A PCR product of correct size for the distance between the
primers (1.9 kb), visualized after Southern blotting, was detected in
3 of 29 analyzed groups of clones.
The assays for Igflr targeting were performed with the primers
5'-CAGGACATAGCGTTGGCTACCC-3' (neo) and 5'-GGACCTTCTACAAGGTGGGGAC-3' (Igflr locus sequence; lying on genomic DNA,
downstream of the 3' end of the sequence present in the replacement
vector). PCR cycling was for 1 rain at 94°C, 1 rain at 70°C, and 1.5
rain at 74°C for 30 cycles, After the addition to each tube of 60 pmol
of each primer, 12 nmol of each of the dNTPs, and 1.5 U of Taq
polymerase, the amplification was continued for 30 more cycles. A 30
pJ aliquot of each PCR reaction was analyzed by electrophoresis on
a 1% agarose gel. A PCR product of correct size (1.0 kb), visualized
by ethidium bromide staining, was detected in 9 of 53 analyzed groups
of clones.
Following identification of individual positive clones by PCR, Southern analysis was used to verify their authenticity.
B l u t o c y e t Injections
Blastocysts were flushed at 3.5 days postcoitum from the uterine horns
of naturally mated C57BI.J6J and MF1 females in Dulbecco's modified
Eagle's medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Approximately
15 ES cells of targeted clones possessing a normal karyotype were
injected into each blastocoel, and groups of 6-12 blastocysts were
transferred into pseudopregnant females, as described (Bradley,
1987). Seven germline chimeras of both host strains transmitting the
mutated Igf-1 gene were obtained from one of the injected clones,
while in the Igflr case, two of the injected clones yielded eight germline
transmitters.
Genotyplng
For genotyping of animals by Southern analysis, DNA was prepared
as described (Hogan et al., 1986) from the yolk sac of E9.5--E16.5
embryos, the tails of E17.5 and E18.5 embryos and neonates, and
the tail tip of 2- to 4-week-old mice. For probes we used a 440 bp
EcoRI-Spel fragment located on genomic DNA upstream of the 5'/gf-1
fragment present in the corresponding targeting vector (see Figure
1A) and a 460 bp BamHI-HinclJ fragment located on genomic DNA
downstream of the 3' end of the Igflr sequence represented in the
corresponding vector (see Figure 1C).
Histological and Anatomical Analyses
For histopethology, E16.5-E18.5 embryos were dissected from anesthetized females and perfused individually through the left ventricle
of the heart with 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.12 M phosphate buffer.
After perfusion, the embryos were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for
2 hr and then transferred to phosphate-buffered saline and processed
for paraffin sectioning. Younger embryos (E12.5--E15.5) were dissected and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde at 4°C overnight. Sections
(6-8 mm) were stained with hematoxylin and eosin.
For skeletal analysis, embryos were eviscerated, fixed in ethanol
at room temperature for 4 days, transferred to acetone for 4 days, and
Cell
70
Table 3. Results of RII/rll (Female) x Riilrll (Male) Crosses
A. Expected Frequencies of Gametes and Offspring"
Maternal Gametes
Paternal Gametes
RII (0,5)
rll (0.5)
Nonrecombinant
Rii (0.3)
rll (0,3)
Rll/Rii (0.15)
RIIIrll (0.15)
rlllRii (0.15)
rll/rll (0.15)
Recombinant
RII (0.2)
rii (0.2)
RIIIRII (0.10)
RII/rii (0.10)
rlllRII (0.10)
rll/rii (0.10)
B. Datab
Genotype
RIIIRII
RII/rll ~
rlllRII J
RIIIRii
RII/rii ~.
rll/Rii J
Number of Embryos
53 t 159
106
71
Observed Frequency
Expected Frequency
0.11 I 0.32
t
0.15
t
0.21
) 195
0.14) 0.39
0.10
Phenotype of Newborn Mice
0.35
Normal
0.40
Dwarfism (60% of normal size)
0.25
124
0.25
0.25
rlllrll
86
0.17
0.15
Dwarfism (45% of normal size)
Neonatal lethality
rlllrii
60
0.12
0.10
Dwarfism (30% of normal size)
Neonatal lethality
• The expected frequency of recombinant paternal gametes is 40% (the genetic distance between Igflr and Igf-2 on chromosome 7 is 41 cM).
b The data (500 genotyped embryos) are from 62 litters derived from imbred and outbred crosses.
then stained with alizarin red S and alcian blue 8GS at 37°C for
3-5 days. The tissues were cleared with 1% KOH, and the skeletons
were stored in glycerol, as described (McLeod, 1980).
Genetic Crosses
To generate Igf-2(p-)/Igflr(-/-) double mutant mice, we had to rely
on meiotic recombination events, since these genes both reside on
chromosome 7, at a distance of 41 cM apart (see Hillyard et al., 1993).
To simplify the description of matings initiated for this purpose, and
of the genotypes of offspring, we will denote the wildotype and mutated
versions of the Igflr gene as R and r (for receptor), respectively, while
II and ii will be the corresponding symbols for the wild-type and mutated
Igf-2 gene.
First, we crossed females homozygous for the Igf-2 mutated gene
(Rii/Rii) with males heterozygous for the Igflr mutated gene (RII/rll),
to obtain among the F1 progeny Riilrll animals. In all subsequent
crosses, RIIIrll females were mated with Riilrll males so that all of the
F2 progeny receiving the paternal ii gene would be Igf-2(p-) mutants,
owing.to parental imprinting. At the same time, we expected that 20%
of the paternal gametes would be rii recombinants (see Table 3), which,
in combination with rll maternal gametes, would yield the desired double mutants (rlllrii). Table 3 shows that the possible combinations of
paternal and maternal (nonrecombinantand recombinant) gametes
can yield six genotypes, which, as it turned out, corresponded to four
(instead of three) phenotypes. Genotyping of 500 embryos from 62
litters of RIIIrll x Rii/rll matings indicated that the frequency distribution of genotypes was in excellent agreement with the expectation
(Table 3).
To generate Igf-l(-I-)llgf-2(p-) double mutants, we first crossed
females homozygous for the/gf-2 mutated gene with males heterozygous for the Igf-1 mutated gene, to obtain, among the F1 progeny,
males heterozygous for both mutated loci. Such males were then
mated to heterozygous Igf-l(+l-) females, so that all of the F2 progeny
receiving the mutated Igf-2 gene would be Igf-2(p-) mutants, owing
to parental imprinting. The fraction of the latter progeny that were
homozygous for the Igf-1 mutation corresponded to the desired double
mutants.
To generate offspring with combinations of mutations present in
the same litters, we first crossed females heterozygous for the Igflr
mutation with males heterozygous for both the Igf-I and/gf-2 mutations. Among the progeny, we kept and then crossed males heterozygous for all three mutations and females heterozygous for both Igf-1
and Igfl r.
Acknowledgments
We thank S. Newman and J. Goldman for communicating unpublished
data; J. Krueger for help in interpreting skin histology; C. T. Roberts
and D. LeRoith for providing an IgflrcDNA probe; J. Lee and H. Weintraub for providing PCR primers and antibodies for assays of muscle
gene expression; G. Singh for providing a surfactant apoprotsin antibody; N. Jenkins for use of facilities; and R. Axel, C. Bondy, T. OeChiara, E. Fuchs, T. Jassal, V. E. Pspaioannou, J. Pintar, and S. Zeitlin
for discussions and advice. This work was supported by grants to
A. E. and E. J. R. from the National Institutes of Health. J.-Po L. was
supported by an award from the Markey Charitable Trust to the Columbia University Center for Molecular Toxicology and Nutrition. J. B. was
supported by a training grant on hormone research from the National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. E. J. R. was
supported by the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Foundation.
Received April 28, 1993; revised July 20, 1993.
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