Figure 5. Altered expression of E-cadherin, Phalloidin and alpha SMA in Ctip2^ep−/− mutant day 5 skin wounds.

(A) Expression of E-Cadherin is down regulated in the Ctip2^L2/L2 control basal layer migratory tongue but not in Ctip2^ep−/− mutants. The insets are magnified. (B) Expression of Phalloidin (red) is down regulated in the Ctip2^L2/L2 control but not in Ctip2^ep−/− mutant migratory tongue. (C) Reduced accumulation of myofibroblast (alpha SMA: red) in Ctip2^ep−/− mice wounds compared to the wild type mice. (D) Quantification of alpha SMA. Bar graph shows reduced pixel intensities in Ctip2^ep−/− compared to the Ctip2^L2/L2 control. Data are represented as means ± SD. Significant differences between Ctip2^L2/L2 and Ctip2^ep−/− (P<0.05). (E) Increased numbers of blood vessels in Day 5 post wounding samples inCtip2^L2/L2 compared to Ctip2^ep−/− mice but not significant. Values are the mean and SEM (n = 4 mice). MT-migratory tongue; E-epidermis and D- dermis. Arrows point to the directions of the wound. Dotted lines demarcate the epidermis from the dermis. Scale bars: 50 µm (A and B), 100 µm (C).