Fig. 6.
Forced activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling expands the Dlx5-expressing canal rim identity at the expense of Ntn1-expressing fusion plate. (A,B) Whole-mount X-gal staining of control and cβcatΔexon3 mouse inner ears at E12.5 (tamoxifen administered at E9.5). (C-J) Transverse sections analyzed for Dlx5 (C,D), Ntn1 (E,F), laminin (G,H) and Bmp2 (I,J) expression. The inner ears of cβcatΔexon3 mutants show an expansion in Dlx5 staining throughout the canal pouch (arrow in D) at the expense of Ntn1 (arrow in F) resulting in an epithelialization of the fusion plate, as indicated by the maintained laminin expression (arrowheads in H). Arrowheads in J indicate ectopic Bmp2 expression.