Fig. 3.
Lineage-tracing of Nkx2.2-expressing cells in the murine intestinal epithelium. Activity of Nkx2.2Cre is verified by Tomato staining in sections of embryonic day (E) 14.5 (A) and E15.5 (B) Nkx2.2Cre/+;R26RTomato embryos. Tomato-stained cells can be found as early as E15.5 in the intestine (Int). P, pancreas. C: in 6-wk-old mice, Tomato-stained cells are detected in almost every crypt. Whole-mount images (D and G) and sections (E and H) from the small (D and E) and large (G and H) intestine of 6-wk-old Nkx2.2Cre/+;R26RTomato mice show single Tomato+ cells as well as whole crypts and villi being Tomato labeled. Magnification: ×4 (C, D, and G) and ×20 (A, B, E, and H). Quantification of Tomato-stained villi per “swiss roll” section in the small intestine (F; n = 12) and Tomato-labeled crypts per “swiss roll” section in the large intestine (I; n = 4) are shown.