Fig. 2. Comparing the collar regions of contour, lesser sickle, and main sickle feather follicles in White Leghorn chickens.

(A) Differences of growth rate and growth period in regenerating contour, lesser sickle, and main sickle feathers of White Leghorn chicken (n = 3). (B) Comparison of full feather length and growth rate among contour, lesser sickle, and main sickle feathers (n = 3). (C) H&E staining shows the comparative size and structure of growth phase contour, lesser sickle, and main sickle feathers. The horizontal lines are used for follicle width measurements. The tilted lines are used at high magnification for collar length measurements. (D) Statistics of growth phase follicle collar length among contour, lesser sickle, and main sickle feathers (n = 3). (E) Comparison of β-catenin expression among contour, lesser sickle, and main sickle feathers. DAPI is used for counterstaining. (F and F′) β-Catenin and DAPI staining in higher magnification. The white lines in (F) and (F′) are used to count the epidermal cell layer numbers. (G) Statistics of growth phase follicle epidermal cell layer numbers among contour, lesser sickle, and main sickle feathers (n = 3). (H) Double TA staining in the samples with 2-hour CldU (green) and 24-hour IdU (red) labeling. The white rectangular boxes were used to measure the CldU- and IdU-positive cells. (I and J) Count of CldU- and IdU-positive cell numbers in the epidermis among contour, lesser sickle, and main sickle feathers (n = 3). (K and L) p63 staining and measurement of the p63-positive zone in the feather epidermis. (M) LRC/TA cell double staining. The LRC zone is indicated by the yellow line. (N) Size of LRC zone among contour, lesser sickle, and main sickle feathers (n = 3). (O) Summary of mitotic index, migration rate, and LRC configuration differences in different sized feathers.