Fig. 2. KLF11 transgenic mice show reduced organ size. (A) Macroscopic inspection of the KLF11 transgenic mice revealed that the pancreata appeared smaller, lighter and had a higher transparency when compared with negative controls, suggestive of pancreatic atrophy. D, duodenum; P, pancreas; S, spleen. (B) The relative pancreatic weight expressed as a percentage of total body weight was significantly decreased in the KLF11 transgenic mice for all age groups compared with wild-type mice. (C) The pancreas of KLF11-overexpressing mice showed mild but consistent changes in the pancreas architecture, such as a slight degree of cellular pleomorphism and an incipient loss of normal acini-like organization. The typical spheroidal collections of acinar cells that form an acini unit in the negative control animals were mildly disrupted in KLF11 transgenic mice. (D and E) Mason’s and reticulin staining did not reveal any differences between KLF11 transgenic and control animals. (F) Expression analysis of the acinar enzymes amylase, lipase trypsin, carboxypeptidase, chymotrypsin and elastase revealed no change in KLF11 mice in any age group as compared to controls. (G) The release of amylase induced by CCK in isolated acini of pancreas mice showed no differences between control and KLF11 mice.