Figure 2. Reduced hippocampal size in postnatal and adult Usp9x^−/Y; Emx1-Cre mice.

Haematoxylin stained coronal sections of Usp9x^loxP/Y (A,C,E,G,I,K) and Usp9x^−/Y; Emx1-Cre (B,D,F,H,J,L) brains at P7 (C,D), P14 (E,F), P28 (A,B,G,H), P42 (I,J) and P56 (K,L). (A,B) Low magnification views of P28 control and Usp9x-deficient sections. Hippocampal area was determined by measuring the extent of this structure as shown with the dotted green lines. The dotted red lines demarcate the superior and inferior blades of the dentate gyrus. (C,D) At P7, the mutant had a markedly smaller hippocampus, and reduced length of the blades of the dentate gyrus. The decrease in hippocampal size within Usp9x^−/Y; Emx1-Cre mice was evident at each of the ages investigated (C–L). (M) Quantification of the hippocampal area revealed that the size of the mutant hippocampus was significantly reduced in comparison to the control at each of the ages studied. (N) Similarly, the total length of the blades of the dentate gyrus was reduced in mutant mice between P7 and P56. ^*p < 0.05; ^**p < 0.01; ^***p < 0.001, t-test. Scale bar in (L): A, B −800 μm; (C–L) −150 μm.