Figure 2. Minoxidil and PGE 2 treatments... | Rockefeller University Press

Figure 2.

Minoxidil and PGE2treatments in pregnant mice restore growth for embryonic hypoplastic thymic lobes. (A) Experimental strategy for administering carrier or drugs to pregnant mice from Tbx1+/neo2 intercrosses at the indicated time points (E8, E9, and E10). Embryos were isolated 3, 5, 7, and 8 days later. (B) The cardiothoracic regions are shown for E13–13.5 Tbx1+/+ and Tbx1neo2/neo2 embryos, obtained from pregnant mice that had received carrier, minoxidil, and PGE2 injections at E8, E9, and E10. Black arrows point to the thymic lobes. An interrupted aortic arch common to the Tbx1neo2/neo2 embryos is shown with an open blue triangle. (C–F) Single-cell suspensions from E13–13.5 fetal thymic lobes were prepared and (C) enumerated. Tbx1+/+-carrier (n = 11), Tbx1+/+-minoxidil (n = 9), Tbx1neo2/neo2-carrier (n = 20), and Tbx1neo2/neo2-minoxidil (n = 13) embryos were used. (D) Cells from the carrier and minoxidil-treated groups were stained with antibodies specific for mesenchymal cells (Mes; Pdgfra+) and TECs (EpCam+) and analyzed by flow cytometry. (E) Pictures of thymic lobes isolated from E17–17.5 embryos are shown for carrier, minoxidil, and PGE2 treatment groups. (F) The thymic cellularity was determined in the various treatment groups using E17–17.5 embryonic thymuses. Tbx1+/+-carrier (n = 5 or 12), Tbx1+/+-minoxidil (n = 7), Tbx1neo2/neo2-carrier (n = 9 or 6), Tbx1neo2/neo2-minoxidil (n = 12), and Tbx1neo2/neo2-PGE2 (n = 7). Statistical analyses for C and F were performed with one-way ANOVA (Brown–Forsythe and Welch tests).

Minoxidil and PGE ₂ treatments in pregnant mice restore growth for embryonic hypoplastic thymic lobes. (A) Experimental strategy for administering carrier or drugs to pregnant mice from Tbx1^+/neo2 intercrosses at the indicated time points (E8, E9, and E10). Embryos were isolated 3, 5, 7, and 8 days later. (B) The cardiothoracic regions are shown for E13–13.5 Tbx1^+/+ and Tbx1^neo2/neo2 embryos, obtained from pregnant mice that had received carrier, minoxidil, and PGE₂ injections at E8, E9, and E10. Black arrows point to the thymic lobes. An interrupted aortic arch common to the Tbx1^neo2/neo2 embryos is shown with an open blue triangle. (C–F) Single-cell suspensions from E13–13.5 fetal thymic lobes were prepared and (C) enumerated. Tbx1^+/+-carrier (n = 11), Tbx1^+/+-minoxidil (n = 9), Tbx1^neo2/neo2-carrier (n = 20), and Tbx1^neo2/neo2-minoxidil (n = 13) embryos were used. (D) Cells from the carrier and minoxidil-treated groups were stained with antibodies specific for mesenchymal cells (Mes; Pdgfra⁺) and TECs (EpCam⁺) and analyzed by flow cytometry. (E) Pictures of thymic lobes isolated from E17–17.5 embryos are shown for carrier, minoxidil, and PGE₂ treatment groups. (F) The thymic cellularity was determined in the various treatment groups using E17–17.5 embryonic thymuses. Tbx1^+/+-carrier (n = 5 or 12), Tbx1^+/+-minoxidil (n = 7), Tbx1^neo2/neo2-carrier (n = 9 or 6), Tbx1^neo2/neo2-minoxidil (n = 12), and Tbx1^neo2/neo2-PGE₂ (n = 7). Statistical analyses for C and F were performed with one-way ANOVA (Brown–Forsythe and Welch tests).