Heterogeneity of HNF1β and SOX9 Proteins in Adult Human and Mouse Pancreas
In humans, HNF1β (red) (A) has heterogeneous expression even within the same duct and some cells have undetectable levels (white arrows); SOX9 (green) expression (B) is also heterogeneous, stronger in small terminal ducts than in larger ducts (center). Similarly, in mouse, higher and more homogeneous staining of HNF1β (C) and lower, more heterogeneous SOX9 staining (D), is seen in large ducts than in small ducts. Heterogeneity of HNF1β and SOX9 expression only partially overlaps in human (E and F) and mouse (G and H) pancreas. Double-stained SOX9 (green) HNF1β (red) sections shown as split channels. In mouse small terminal ducts (Pan Cytokeratin red), some cells present high levels of HNF1β (green), and the rest are either HNF1βlow or HNF1βundetectable (I–K), whereas SOX9 (L) is expressed in most. DAPI (blue)-stained nuclei. d, ducts. Scale bars, 25 μm (A–F and L), 50 μm (G, H, and K).