Figure 3. Tie2 is critical for SC generation.

(A) Diagram for EC-specific depletion of Tie2 in SC starting at P1 and analyses 8 weeks later using Tie2^iΔEC mice. (B–G) Images and comparisons of IOP, an anterior (yellow double arrow)/posterior (white double arrow) (ant./post.) segment ratio of the eyeball, relative area, number of Erg⁺ ECs, and intensities of Tie2, Prox1, and Klf4 immunostaining in CD144⁺ SC. Dashed lines demarcate the margins of SC. Each yellow-lined image is magnified in the corner. Scale bars: 100 μm. SC area and expression of each molecule in WT mice are normalized to 100%, and their relative levels in Tie2^iΔEC mice are presented. n = 4–5 for each group. *P < 0.05 versus WT by Mann-Whitney U test.