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Figure 5 | BMC Developmental Biology

Figure 5

From: Epithelial cell-directed efferocytosis in the post-partum mammary gland is necessary for tissue homeostasis and future lactation

Figure 5

WT macrophages do not compensate for impaired efferocytosis by MerTK-deficient mammary epithelium. A-B. Histological examination of WT mammary glands cleared of endogenous epithelium and central lymph nodes and reconstituted with either WT or MerTK-deficient mammary epithelium. For each host mouse, WT tissue was transplanted into the right #4 fat pad, and mertk-/- tissue was transplanted into the left #4 fat pad. Paired sets are displayed. Mice were impregnated 8 weeks following mammary transplant, pups were withdrawn at lactation day 1 to enforce involution, and mammary glands were harvested at 14 dpfw. H&E images and PCNA immunohistochemistry are shown. A. Images taken of the right and left reconstituted mammary glands from host female #1. B. Images taken of the right and left reconstituted mammary glands from host female #2. C. TUNEL analysis of paired reconstituted mammary samples from a single WT recipient mouse, showing the mammary gland reconstituted with WT mammary epithelium and mertk-/- mammary epithelium. Arrows indicate apoptotic bodies. Values represent the average percentage of the total epithelial nuclei that were TUNEL-positive, ± S.D. Significance calculated using Student's paired T-test. N = 7.

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