FIGURE 5.
Male mice lacking miR-205 in TECs exhibit a testosterone-independent thymic hypoplasia relative to littermate controls. A, the thymus weight and total thymic cellularity was compared in littermate controls and the miR-205fl/fl:Foxn1-Cre males at 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks of age. B, the total number of cortical (EpCAM+MHCII+UEA1−BP-1+) and medullary (EpCAM+MHCII+UEA1+BP-1−) TECs was compared between the indicated male mice at 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks of age. C, 4-week-old miR-205fl/fl:Foxn1-Cre male mice and littermate controls were surgically castrated. Three to 4 weeks later, the mice received a 21-day slow release dihydrotestosterone pellet. At this time point, the thymic weight and cellularity were compared in the castrated mice versus those that received a subsequent increase in testosterone (DHT). *, p < 0.04; **, p < 0.006; ***, p < 0.0006. Data are representative of mean ± S.E. from at least 3 mice per group.