Corrected timing of TCRα expression and normal gross thymic phenotype of HY-STOP mice. (A) Targeting strategy for generation of the TcraHY-STOP locus. Original HY-I knock-in locus (top), targeting vector (center), and targeted locus with a STOP cassette are shown. HY VαJα, recombined VαJα element of HY TCR; Neo, neomycin resistance gene; frt, frt sites; pA, polyadenylation signal; STOP, transcriptional STOP cassette; loxP, leftover loxP site in HY-I locus; loxP2272, alternative loxP sites; TK, thymidine kinase gene; Amp, ampicillin resistance gene. (B) Expression of surface TCRβ and HYα on CD4−CD8− (DN), CD4+CD8+ (DP), and CD4−CD8+ (CD8SP) thymocytes from the HY-I (TcraHY-I/HY-I HYβ) and HY-STOP (TcraHY-STOP/− HYβ Rorγt-Cre) female mice. Representative results of at least three independent experiments are shown. (C) Total thymocytes numbers and numbers of TCR− DP thymocytes in male and female HY-I and HY-STOP mice. *, P < 0.5; **, P < 0.01 (n = 3-5); student’s t test. Error bars represent the SD. Representative results of two independent experiments are shown. (D) Comparison of CD4/CD8 profiles of HY-I and HY-STOP thymocytes from male and female mice. Representative results of at least three independent experiments are shown.
