Fig. 5. Excess CTNNB1 in UGE is not sufficient for prostate identity but is sufficient for basal epithelial cell differentiation.

Male Shh^+/+; Ctnnb1^{tm1Mmt/tm1Mmt} (control) and Shh^creERT2/+; Ctnnb1^{tm1Mmt/tm1Mmt} (Ctnnb1^iGOF) embryos were exposed to tamoxifen and progesterone as described. (A-B, E-H) At E18.5, UGS sections were stained by ISH to visualize mRNAs (purple) for the prostatic bud marker Nkx3-1, the basal epithelial marker Krt5 and the intermediate and superficial urothelial marker Upk1b. Sections were immunofluorescently counterstained to visualize UGE marked by CDH1. (C–D) E18.5 male UGS sections were immunofluorescently labeled to visualize CTNNB1 and the basal epithelial marker TRP63. Staining patterns in each panel represent three males. Abbreviations are bl: bladder, sv: seminal vesicle. Arrowheads indicate prostatic buds.