Figure 4. SMC differentiation is perturbed in Smad4^CKO ureters.

(A-H) Immunostaining of α-SMA and Uroplakin in the control (A/C/E/G) and mutant ureters (B/D/F/H) at E15.5 and E16.5. Arrowheads indicate Uroplakin (urothelium) and arrows indicate α-SMA staining (SMCs). (I-P) Immunostaining of SM-MHC in the control (I/K/M/O) and mutant embryos (J/L/N/P) at E15.5 and E16.5. Arrowheads indicate urothelium and arrows indicate SMCs. (Q,R) RNA in situ hybridization revealed Myocd expression is downregulated in the mutants (arrows) at E14.5. (S) Relative expression of Myocd, Acta2 and Myh11 was determined by qRT-PCR in the mutant and control littermate ureters at E14.5 and E15.5.