Figure 8

Gingival overgrowth in the cKO mice. (a) Gross photograph on occlusal view of the mandibular molar region in the 42-day-old (P42) normal (control) mice. (b) Gross photograph on occlusal view of the mandibular molar region in the P42 cKO mice; arrows indicate the enlarged gingiva. (c) Gross photograph on lingual view of the mandibular molar region in the P42 control mice. (d) Gross photograph on lingual view of the mandibular molar region in the P42 cKO mice; arrows indicate the enlarged gingiva. (e) H&E staining of a buccal–lingual section from the mandibular first molar region showed the lingual side gingiva in the 28-day-old control mice; double arrow indicates the thickness of the epithelium. (e1) Higher magnification view of the box area in e revealed a single layer of basal cells (asterisks). (f) The epithelium thickness (double arrow) in the lingual side gingiva of P28 cKO mice was greater than in the normal mice. (f1) Higher magnification view of the box area in f revealed multiple layers of basal cells (asterisks). (g) H&E stain image of the lingual side gingiva in P42 normal mice; double arrow indicates the thickness of the epithelium. (g1) Higher magnification view of the box area in g revealed a single layer of basal cells (asterisks). (h) The epithelium thickness (double arrow) in the lingual side gingiva of P42 cKO mice was greater than in the normal mice. (h1) Higher magnification view of the box area in h revealed multiple layers of basal cells (asterisks). Scale bars, 50 μm (a, b, c and d); 20 μm (a1, b1, c1 and d1). cKO, conditional knock out; Ctrl, control; H&E, Haematoxylin and eosin.