Abstract
Purpose: :
Illustrate how inactivation of Smad4 in knockout mouse model can result in aberrant lacrimal gland development.
Methods: :
Experimental mice used in this study were the offsprings of Smad4flox/flox mice that also expressed a Cre transgene under the control of the Pax6 promoter (Smad4cko) and Smad4flox/flox. The embryoes were harvested at E17 and β-galactosidase staining of the lacrimal glands was done.
Results: :
Through the use of somatoform knock out mice we were able to morphologically show the effect that the somatoform gene plays in lacrimal gland development. It can be seen that in the wild type mouse, the lacrimal gland displays multiple branching points and many acini structures. There are primary, secondary and tertiary branching points with a full appearance of the acini. In comparison, the knock out mouse lacrimal gland shows a marked decrease in the number of branches and far fewer acini structures than the wild type .
Conclusions: :
With Smad4 inactivation there is a profound difference anatomically in terms of lacrimal gland size, branching and number of acini between the two mouse groups providing strong evidence that the somatoform gene does influence the morphological development of the lacrimal gland
Keywords: lacrimal gland • development