Figure 2
Increased microvessel density and sustained tip cell activity in
Lif–/– mice.
(A–D) Double IHC of PECAM-1 and GFAP in the P4 retinas of Lif+/+ and Lif–/– mice. Note the increased microvessel density in contrast to almost normally formed arteries (a) and veins (v). (E and F) Higher-magnification images of the boxed regions in A and C, respectively. Note the tip cells piled up in the Lif–/– retina. (G and H) Quantification of the number of filopodia, number of branching points, and capillary density by counting as shown in G. Data are mean numbers from 8 random FOV around the sprouting edge per retina (n = 7). (I) Western blotting of GFAP proteins in Lif+/+ and Lif–/– retinas at P4. (J and K) IHC of PECAM-1 in P4 tracheas. Dotted lines flank a cartilaginous ring area. (L) Appearance of Lif+/+ and Lif–/– mice at E11. (M and N) Three-dimensional projections for thin-sliced whole-mount E11 embryos stained with PECAM-1 from the indicated boxed regions in L. Note the increased microvessel density, although major trunk vessels and intersomitic vessels were formed normally in Lif–/– mice. (O and P) Isolectin B4 staining for E11 hindbrains. (Q–T) Double IHC of PECAM-1 (Q and S) and neurofilaments (NF; R and T) in the E12 embryos. Scale bars: 50 μm. *P < 0.03 versus Lif+/+.
