Figure 11
E-Cadherin localization is disrupted in yolk sac tissues of Tie2Cre+/-Srff/fembryos. Photomicrographs of wild-type (A, C; 400×) and mutant (B, D; 2,000×) yolk sac tissues stained for PECAM (red) and E-cadherin (green). Immunofluorescent analysis revealed a decrease in detectable E-cadherin protein in mutant samples. Robust E-cadherin staining is observed in the endodermal (Ed) but not mesodermal (Md) layer of wild-type yolk sac (A). In contrast, very little E-cadherin staining can be detected in yolk sac from Tie2Cre+/-Srff/fembryos (B). Single-plane confocal microscopy (C, D; 4,000×) confirms the lack of E-cadherin immunostaining at the apical brush-border surface of mutant yolk sac endodermal cells (compare A and B, arrowheads). Blue stain in A and B is DAPI nuclear stain. Scale bars: A, B = 50 μm; C, D = 7.5 μm.