Fig 2. Intracellular localization of β-catenin in capsular, cortical, and medullary stroma.

(A-L) Immunofluorescence showing β-catenin intracellular distribution in the capsular, cortical, and medullary stroma. (A-C) In the capsular stroma, β-catenin localizes in a membrane and cytoplasmic pattern and does not co-localize with nuclear stromal factor Pbx1. (D) Schematic diagram of the intracellular β-catenin localization and a suggested role in cell-cell adhesion via adherens junctions. (E-G) β-catenin weakly co-localizes with Pbx1 in the nuclear compartment but is primarily cytoplasmic. (H) Schematic diagram of the intracellular β-catenin localization showing possible roles in the cytoplasm and nucleus. (I-K) In the medulla, β-catenin co-localizes with Pbx1 primarily to the nuclear compartment but some cytoplasmic β-catenin expression is observed. (L) Schematic diagram of the intracellular β-catenin localization showing a more prominent role in the nucleus. (scale bar = 5μm, M = membrane, C = cytoplasm, N = nuclear, AJ = Adherens junctions).