Figure 3

Assessment of normal and cKO mice at the gross level. (a) Growth curve of mice from postnatal day 0 to 56. The 28- and 35-day-old cKO mice were smaller than the control mice, whereas the body weights of the 56-day-old cKO were close to those of the normal (control) mice. (b) Gross photograph of incisors in the 42-day-old control mice; (b1) the upper incisor (with gingiva removed) in 42-day-old control mice; (b2) the lower incisor (with gingiva removed) in 42-day-old control mice; (b3) the mandibular molars (with gingiva removed) in 42-day-old control mice. (c) Gross photograph of incisors in the 42-day-old cKO mice; (c1) the upper incisor (with gingiva removed) in 42-day-old cKO mice; (c2) the lower incisor (with gingiva removed) in 42-day-old cKO mice; (c3) the mandibular molars (with gingiva removed) in 42-day-old cKO mice. Note the differences in the colour and surface smoothness between the teeth of normal and cKO mice. Ctrl, normal control group; cKO, conditional knockout group.