Figure 5.

Generation of Claudin15^−/− mice. A, Construction of the wild‐type allele, the targeting vector and the targeted allele of the Claudin15^−/− mice. B, Final targeting vector. C, Southern blot analysis of the targeted clones. 5′ probe: The genomic DNA of the potential clones 2C7 and 5E11 was digested by Nde I and analysed by Southern blot for a 14 kb band from wild‐type allele and a 9.1 kb band from recombinant allele; 2C7 and 5E11 were positive. Neo‐probe: The genomic DNA of the potential clones 2C7 and 5E11 were digested by BamHI and analysed by Southern blot for a 9.8 kb band from the recombinant allele; 2C7 and 5E11 were positive. D, Loss of Claudin15 mRNA in the mammary gland of Claudin15‐deficient mice by RT‐PCR. GADPH is the control. E, H&E staining of Claudin15^−/− mice and wild‐type mice. Compared with the mammary gland of wild‐type mice, there was hyperplasia in the mammary glands of Claudin15^−/− mice