Growth of the nasal septum in the Snell strain of hypopituitary dwarf mouse.

The literature relating to experimental investigation of growth of the nasal septum has been reviewed in detail. A total of 156 skulls from the Snell hypopituitary mouse, six controls and six dwarfs at each age group were radiographed in lateral view to enable measurement of the different components of the nasal septum. By 80 days of age, the snout of the nasal septum in the Snell strain of mice was 56 per cent the size of the snout in normal mice (n = 12, t = 8.07, P = 0.0005). It is concluded that the Snell strain of mouse is an example of a specific genetic defect causing severe growth retardation of cartilaginous tissues, particularly the nasal complex.