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. 2002 Oct 31;4(2):130–138. doi: 10.1007/s10162-002-3015-9

The Deaf Mouse Mutant Jeff (Jf) is a Single Gene Model of Otitis Media

Rachel E Hardisty 1, Alexandra Erven 2, Karen Logan 1, Susan Morse 1, Sylvia Guionaud 3, Sara Sancho–Oliver 3, A Jackie Hunter 4, Steve D M Brown 1,✉, Karen P Steel 2
PMCID: PMC3202714  PMID: 12943368

Abstract

Otitis media is the most common cause of hearing impairment in children and is primarily characterized by inflammation of the middle ear mucosa. Yet nothing is known of the underlying genetic pathways predisposing to otitis media in the human population. Increasingly, large-scale mouse mutagenesis programs have undertaken systematic and genome-wide efforts to recover large numbers of novel mutations affecting a diverse array of phenotypic areas involved with genetic disease including deafness. As part of the UK mutagenesis program, we have identified a novel deaf mouse mutant, Jeff (Jf). Jeff maps to the distal region of mouse chromosome 17 and presents with fluid and pus in the middle ear cavity. Jeff mutants are 21% smaller than wild-type littermates, have a mild craniofacial abnormality, and have elevated hearing thresholds. Middle ear epithelia of Jeff mice show evidence of a chronic proliferative otitis media. The Jeff mutant should prove valuable in elucidating the underlying genetic pathways predisposing to otitis media.

Keywords: otitis media, deafness, ENU mutagenesis, mouse genetics

Full Text

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Medical Research Council, GlaxoSmithKline, and the European Community (contract BMH4-CT97-2715). Thanks to Terry Hacker, Caroline Barker, and Adele Seymour for histology services; Peter Glenister, Claire Shearer, and Sian Clements for IVF; and Professor Mark Haggard and Mary Gannon for advice on human OME.

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