FIGURE 2:

Microvilli still form in the VEP^−/− mice. (A) Transmission electron micrographs of sections of jejunum from WT, EP^−/−, and VEP^−/− presenting a general view of the enterocyte polarity. Arrows point at apical vesicles and vacuoles in the VEP^−/− sample. Scale bars: 2 μm. (B) Transmission electron micrographs of sections of jejunum from WT, the three double KO (VE^−/−, VP^−/−, EP^−/−) and the triple KO (VEP^−/−) mice illustrating the organization of the brush border. Scale bars: 500 nm. (C) Histograms illustrating the average lengths of the intestinal microvilli depending on the genotype. Values are 1.25 ± 0.26 μm, n_WT = 86; 1.01 ± 0.16 μm, n_P−/− = 194; 1.03 ± 0.14 μm, n_VP−/− = 14; 0.76 ± 0.15 μm, n_EP−/− = 75; 0.72 ± 0.11 μm, n_VEP−/− = 58. *** t test p < 0.001.