Fig. 2: The overall developmental delay and defects of Snai2^−/− mice.

A The left panel consists of photographs of Snai2^+/+, Snai2^+/−, and Snai2^−/− mice, along with those of the brains from each of the groups. The bar charts on the right panel compare the body weight (g), body length (cm), brain weight (g), and the brain weight/body weight ratios of mice across the three groups (n = 28 per group, 11 males and 17 females). Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was done with one-way ANOVA followed by post-hoc Tukey’s multiple comparisons. ns = not significant, ***p < 0.001. B The depigmented hair along the midline of abdominal wall and around the eye fissures of the Snai2^−/− mouse, whereas Snai2^+/+ and Snai2^+/− mice have no depigmentation of skin and hair. C The radiographic analysis comprises two imaging modalities: the first column displays X-ray images of the skull, cervical vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, and rib cage, while the second and third columns present three-dimensional CT reconstructions of skull morphology, craniofacial bone architecture, and dental anatomy, respectively. Distinctive morphological abnormalities in Snai2^−/− mice are indicated by red arrows. These marked regions in Snai2^−/− mice exhibit significant developmental retardation and structural anomalies when compared with both Snai2^+/+ and Snai2^+/− mice. D Kaplan-Meier survival curves comparing the lifespan of Snai2^+/+, Snai2^+/−, and Snai2^−/− mice (n = 50 per group, with an equal number of males and females).