A missense mutation of ErbB2 produces a novel mouse model of stillbirth associated with a cardiac abnormality but lacking abnormalities of placental structure.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In humans, stillbirth describes the death of a fetus before birth after 28 weeks gestation, and accounts for approximately 2.6 million deaths worldwide annually. In high-income countries, up to half of stillbirths have an unknown cause and are described as "unexplained stillbirths"; this lack of understanding impairs efforts to prevent stillbirth. There are also few animal models of stillbirth, but those that have been described usually have significant placental abnormalities. This study describes a novel mutant murine model of fetal death with atrial conduction block due to an ErbB2 missense mutation which is not associated with abnormal placental morphology.

Methods

Phenotypic characterisation and histological analysis of the mutant mouse model was conducted. T

SUBMITTER: Shawer H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7269201 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature