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While present, mutant adrenals are differentiated as evidenced by the presence of enzymes for the final steps in the synthesis of corticosterone, aldosterone, and catecholamines.
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However, in mutants adrenal cells fail to proliferate postnatally and adrenals atrophy until they have disappeared macroscopically in the adult. POMC-null mutant mice are born with adrenal glands that are morphologically indistinguishable from those of their wild-type littermates. To understand the basis for this adrenal defect, we compared the development of adrenal primordia in POMC-null mice and littermate controls.
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Adult mouse mutants homozygous for an engineered proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-null allele lack macroscopically distinct adrenal glands and circulating adrenal hormones.