The brachymorphic mutation of mice and altered developmental patterns of limb bud 3':5' cyclic adenosine monophosphate

Concentrations of cyclic AMP (cAMP) were determined in paired fore and hind limbs from day 12-16 of development in murine fetuses homozygous for the brachymorphic (bm) mutation and normal controls. A developmental rise in cAMP occurred 1 day earlier in bm/bm than in +/+ hind limbs and cAMP was higher in day-13 bm/bm than in +/+ fore limbs. Since cAMP is well documented to stimulate chondrogenic differentiation, premature cartilage determination secondary to altered levels of cAMP could play a role in bm/bm short-limbed dwarfism.