Figure 3.

a2V is essential for the lactating mammary gland. (a) Growth-curve analysis of litters from WT and KO mice. Mice aged 6–8 weeks were mated and litter sizes ranging from five to eight pups were evaluated. Data from 8-size litter is shown. Pups were weighed during the indicated time points on X axis. Y axis represents body weight in grams. Data represent mean±S.E., n=24. (b) Real-time-PCR (RT-PCR) showing fold decrease in β-casein mRNA from a2V-KO over WT mice. Before fold-change calculation, the values were normalized to endogenous control glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). (c) Before tissue dissection and harvesting, mammary glands were weighed and normalized to their body weights. Data represent mean±S.E., n=6. NS, nonsignificant. *P≤0.05, **P≤0.01 and ***P≤0.001