Figure 2.

Conditional deletion of Aldh1a2 in the pituitary causes embryonic dysmorphology and reduced Tshb expression. A, E15.5 Hesx1^Cre/+; Aldh1a2^F/F embryos showed dysmorphology of the intermediate lobe and marginal zone (arrowheads), whereas the anterior lobe parenchyma appears normal. Thyrotropin β-subunit (TSHB) hormone protein is detected in the rostral tip and parenchyma of Hesx1^Cre/+; Aldh1a2^F/F embryos (n = 3 and 3). B, Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of e15.5 Hesx1^Cre/+; Aldh1a2^F/F pituitaries confirmed robust reduction of Aldh1a2. Tshb transcripts are reduced, whereas other thyrotrope markers such as Cga, Gata2, and Pou1f1 are not significantly altered (n = 3 and 4). C, Hesx1^Cre/+; Aldh1a2^F/F mice display mild dysmorphology of the intermediate lobe, comparable growth hormone (GH), and reduced TSHB at P0 (n = 3 and 3). Scale bars = 100 μm.