Figure 5.
Analysis of MEC Lineage in Adult and Aged SMACreERT2/+:Rosa26-Tomatofl/fl Mice
(A–C) Co-immunostaining of MECs genetically labeled at P13/14 (red) with αSMA antibody (green) after 1 week of chase (P21). (A) Immunostaining with αSMA antibody. (B) Genetically labeled MECs. (C) Merged images.
(D–I) Co-immunostaining of MECs labeled at P14 (red) with αSMA antibody (green) after 6 months of chase (P200). (D–F) Most of MECs in the proximal (central) part of the LG also labeled with the αSMA+ antibody (green), whereas the distal part of the LG contains labeled (red) and unlabeled (green) MECs (G–I).
(J) Graphical representation of the results shown in (A–I). ∗n = 36; p < 0.01; ∗∗n = 28, p < 0.01, mean ± SD; two-tailed t test. Analysis of 14 LGs obtained from females, 7–12 sections per LG.
(K and L) Number of labeled MECs decreases with age. TM was administered at P13/14, and a number of MECs were analyzed at 3 (K) and 24 months (L).
(M) Quantification of the labeled MECs in the LGs after 3 and 24 months of chase. The number of labeled MECs is significantly decreased in aged mice. ∗Analysis of 15 LG obtained from 4 females aged 3 months old and 5 females aged 24 months (105 sections); p < 0.05. Results show mean ± SD; two-tailed t test.