Figure 3.

Embryonic LRAT mRNA levels and enzymatic activity in the absence of CMOI. A) Expression levels of LRAT mRNA measured by real-time RT-PCR in wild-type and CMOI^−/− embryos from dams maintained on the vitamin A-sufficient diet throughout life and gestation. Values are expressed as means ± sd using the 2^−ΔΔCT method; n = 8/group. Statistical analysis was performed as described in Materials and Methods. B) LRAT activity in microsomes isolated from wild-type (WT) and CMOI^−/− embryos from dams maintained on the vitamin A-sufficient diet throughout life and gestation. Reactions were run for 12 min at 37°C; 3 pools/group (7–8 embryos/pool) were averaged. Results are expressed as means ± sd. R-Pal, retinyl palmitate. *P < 0.05 vs. WT.