Congenital Hypotrichosis in Japanese White Strain (JW-NIBS) Rabbits

Researchers studied a colony of Japanese White strain (JW-NIBS) rabbits with congenital hypotrichosis, finding it was caused by a single autosomal recessive gene, labeled htr. Affected rabbits had sparse, fine, and short hair on their trunks, with wavy hair around the nose and extremities. Histological analysis showed epidermal thickening, sebaceous gland hyperplasia, and abnormal hair development. Despite these changes, keratin composition in the skin was similar to controls, though there was an increase in both proliferating and apoptotic cells in hair bulbs. No differences were observed in T and B lymphocyte numbers in mesenteric lymph nodes between affected and control rabbits.