Figure 2.

Gene expression patterns of storkhead box 1 (STOX1), myosinVIIa and SOX2 proteins? in cultured mouse utricular sensory epithelial cells by immunocytochemistry. (a) Fluorescence images of 2d epithelial cell cultures with antibodies against STOX1, myosinVIIa and SOX2. STOX1 and myosinVIIa were co‐expressed in hair cells. SOX2 gene protein expression overlapped with that of STOX1 in the epithelial cells. Note that although STOX1 is a transcription factor, diffuse labelling was present in cultured epithelial cell cytoplasm, particularly in the cortical region of the cells. (b) Immunostaining of stromal cells with antibodies as (a). Stromal cells expressed vimentin (fibroblast antigen) and only few expressed STOX1, but virtually did not express SOX‐2 and myosinVIIa. Normal mouse IgG and rabbit IgG served as negative controls for primary antibodies. Scale bar = 50 μm.