Figure 2. Olig2-null mice show reduced PC generation.

(A) Immunostaining with an anti-Calbindin antibody on E15.5 cerebellar mid-sagittal sections of Olig2+/+ and Olig2−/− mice shows notably reduction of PCs in the cerebellum (CB). Quantification on confocal images shows a significant reduction in the number of Calbindin⁺ cells per cerebellar section in Olig2−/− mice compared with controls (n = 3 for both genotypes). DAPI is used to label nuclei. MB, midbrain. The number of Calbindin⁺ cells per field in the acute cultures of dissociated E17.5 Olig2−/− (B) and E18.5 Olig1−/− (C) cerebella are compared with their controls (n = 3 for both mutant and control genotypes). In these same acute cultures, the percentage of Pax6⁺ cells among total cells (DAPI⁺) are also compared for E17.5 Olig2−/− (D) and E18.5 Olig1−/− (E) cerebella. Gene expression levels in dissected cerebellar tissues are compared by qRT-PCR between Olig2+/− and Olig2−/− mice (n = 4 for both genotypes) at E18.5 (F), or between Olig1+/+,− and Olig1−/− mice (n = 3 for both genotypes) at E17.5 (G). Scale bar: 200 μm in A and B; 100 μm in D. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; n.s., not significant by Student’s t-test.