Figure 5. Lef1 expression exhibits dose-dependent effects in the Wnt9b and stabilized β-catenin alleles.

(A–C) Lef1 expression (green) is low in the self-renewing cap metanephric mesenchyme cells (mm) and upregulated in the differentiating renal vesicle structures (rv). NCAM expression is also increased as the cap mm differentiates, but is not expressed in the ureteric bud (ub). (D–I) Wnt9b transgenic kidneys have increased Lef1 staining which is further upregulated in the ectopic vesicles seen in the stabilized β-catenin allele. Notably, not all ectopic vesicles in the stabilized β-catenin allele are NCAM positive, suggesting abnormal specification of these differentiated structures.