Figure 5.

Skeletal abnormalities found in the Zic2^kd/kd mouse. (a and b) Dorsal views of the ossified (red) and cartilaginous (blue) axial skeleton from E17.5 Zic2^+/+ (a) or Zic2^kd/kd (b) mice. Note that the dorsal aspect of the vertebrae (vertebral arches) was irregularly opened and that abnormal fusions between the rostrocaudally adjacent arches had formed (arrowheads). C2, Cervical vertebra 2; T1, thoracic vertebra 1; L1, lumbar vertebra 1. (c and d) Comparison of Zic2^+/+ (Upper) and Zic2^kd/kd (Lower) thoracic vertebra 6 (c, T6) and lumbar vertebra (d, L3). ap, Articular process; tp, transverse process; va, vertebral arch; vb, vertebral body. (e and f) Hand (H) and foot (F) skeletal patterns also were disorganized. The fourth and fifth metacarpal/metatarsal bones were abnormally fused in the Zic2^kd/kd mouse (f) whereas such fusion was not noted in the Zic2^+/+ mouse (e) (arrowheads). Similarly, abnormal fusion was found in the carpal (*) and tarsal bones (arrow).