Neural and Mammary Gland Defects in ErbB4 Knockout Mice Genetically Rescued from Embryonic Lethality

Mice lacking the epidermal growth factor receptor family member ErbB4 exhibit defects in cranial neural crest cell migration but die by embryonic day 11 because of defective heart development. To examine later phenotypes, we rescued the heart defects in ErbB4 mutant mice by expressing ErbB4 under a cardiac-specific myosin promoter. Rescued ErbB4 mutant mice reach adulthood and are fertile. However, during pregnancy, mammary lobuloalveoli fail to differentiate correctly and lactation is defective. Rescued mice also display aberrant cranial nerve architecture and increased numbers of large interneurons within the cerebellum.