TABLE 2.
Summary of ultrastructural observations made in E18.5 (prebirth) epidermis
Control indicates Krt5+/+, Krt5-null indicates Krt5−/−, and KRT8bc replacement indicates KRT8bcTg/−Krt5−/−.
| Features | Control | Krt5-null | KRT8bc replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suprabasal Ultrastructure | Normal | Normal | Normal |
| Hemidesmosomes (per cell) | 4.9 ± 1.7 | 6.7 ± 3.0 | 5.5 ± 1.8 |
| Desmosomes (per cell) | 6.2 ± 1.4 | 4.6 ± 0.8 | 4.1 ± 1.6 |
| Keratin filament bundles | Numerous | Absent | Occasional |
| Cell aspect ratio | 1.58 ± 0.5 | 0.81 ± 0.4 | 1.08 ± 0.4 |
| Nuclear aspect ratio | 2.05 ± 0.9 | 0.66 ± 0.3 | 0.92 ± 0.5 |
| Mitochondria (% normal) | 98.8 | 7.4 | 52.9 |