Figure 5: Expression of Bcl9l is mainly restricted to ST-II and its precursor cells in the chorionic placenta.
From: Identification of a link between Wnt/β-catenin signalling and the cell fusion pathway
(a–j) β-Gal staining (a–f) or BCL9L immunostaining (g–j) of sections from E8.5 (a,g,j), E9.5 (b,h) and E10.5 (d,f,i) placentas. (a–e) Bcl9l+/−, (f,j) Bcl9l−/− and (g–i) wild-type. The boxed areas in panels b and d are shown at higher magnification in c and e, respectively. Black arrowheads in c indicate the layer of cells with an intermediate width of precursor cells and differentiated cells. Red arrowheads indicate elongated and thin ST-II. Numbers 1–3 in c indicate the transition states of cells undergoing differentiation from precursor cells to ST-II. Asterisks in e indicate fetal red blood cells surrounded by β-gal-stained ST. al, allantois; ch, chorionic plate; f, fetal blood space; lab, labyrinth layer; md, maternal decidua; ms, maternal blood sinusoid; sp spongiotrophoblast. Scale bars, (c,e) 50 μm; (a,b,d,f–j) 100 μm.
