Teed S K, Crossland J P, Dawson W D
Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29208.
J Hered. 1990 Jul-Aug;81(4):309-13. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a110994.
Ashy deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were first discovered about 1960 in a wild population from Oregon. Although indistinguishable from the wild type at weaning, ashy deer mice become progressively grayer with subsequent molts. The trait is inherited as an autosomal recessive and the symbol ahy is assigned for the locus. The trait is distinctly manifest by 6 months of age, at which time homozygotes have white hairs on the muzzle and at the base of the tail. The amount of white gradually increases with age, but development varies greatly among animals. Some become virtually all white by 18 months. Implants of melanocyte-stimulating hormone induced production of pigment in depigmented portions of the coat, indicating that viable melanocytes were present. The ashy deer mouse model may be useful for further study of melanocyte function.
灰白色鹿鼠（白足鼠）于1960年左右首次在俄勒冈州的野生种群中被发现。尽管在断奶时与野生型难以区分，但灰白色鹿鼠在随后的换毛过程中会逐渐变灰。该性状作为常染色体隐性遗传，该基因座被赋予符号ahy。该性状在6个月大时明显显现，此时纯合子在口鼻部和尾巴基部有白色毛发。白色的数量随年龄逐渐增加，但不同动物的发育差异很大。有些在18个月时几乎全白。植入促黑素细胞激素可诱导被毛脱色部分产生色素，表明存在有活力的黑素细胞。灰白色鹿鼠模型可能有助于进一步研究黑素细胞功能。
