Figure 7. Loss of Prop1 affects EMT pathway genes in pituitary tissues.
(A) Upper panel:In situ hybridization using a Zeb2 antisense riboprobe at e14.5 detected expression in the control pituitary. Most of the positive cells are in the ventral area, around the cleft (between the lines). In Prop1df/df pituitaries very few cells are expressing Zeb2. Lower panel: Sagittal sections of 14.5 embryos were stained for CDH1 (green) and CDH2 (red) by immunohistochemistry. In the wild-type pituitary, CDH1 expression is dispersed throughout the Rathke’s Pouch, while CDH2 expression is more concentrated in the rostral area and in the forming anterior lobe. In Prop1 mutant pituitaries, CDH1 expression is increased and concentrated in the area ventral to the lumen, where Zeb2 expression was absent. White boxes indicate where higher magnification photos were taken. (B) Immunohistochemestry for CDH1 at P13 shows that Prop1df/df pituitaries have an expanded expression of this endothelial protein in the anterior lobe compared to control pituitaries. White boxes indicate where higher magnification photos were taken. Cell nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bar 100 µm.