Fig. 4

Defective development of the neuronal layer of the MOE in Kif26a^−/− mice. (a–f) HE-stained MOE sections from Kif26a^−/− mice at P7 showing reduced thickness of the neuronal layer (b,d,f) compared with those from wild-type mice (a,c,e). The boxes in (a,b) represent the regions in (c,d), respectively. The boxes in (c,d) represent the regions in (e,f), respectively. (g–j) HE-stained sections of the VNO from wild-type (g) and Kif26a^−/− mice (h) at P7. The boxes in g and h represent the regions in (i,j), respectively. VNO morphology was unaffected in Kif26a^−/− mice. (k–n) HE-stained OB sections from wild-type (k,m) and Kif26a^−/− mice (l,n). The boxes in (k,l) represent the regions in (m,n), respectively. (o) Quantification revealed that the thickness of the neuronal layer of the MOE significantly differed between wild-type and Kif26a^−/− mice. (p) VNO thickness did not significantly differ between wild-type and Kif26a^−/− mice. (q) ONL thickness was not significantly different between wild-type and Kif26a^−/− mice. MOE: main olfactory epithelium; VNO: vomeronasal organ; SP: nasal septum; ET: ethmoidal turbinates; OE: olfactory epithelium; RE: respiratory epithelium. DK: cilia/dendritic knobs; SC: supporting cells; ORN: olfactory receptor neurons; BC: basal cells; LP: lamina propria; ONL: olfactory nerve layer; GL: glomerular layer; EPL: external plexiform layer; MCL: mitral cell layer; GCL: granule cell layer; ONL: olfactory nerve layer. The scale bars represent 160 μm (a–d,k,l), 20 μm (e,f,i,j), and 80 μm (g,h,m,n).