Fig. 11. Reduced Map2 expression in the CxCdk5KO cortex, and unaltered pyramidal morphology of layer VI neurons in Cdk5-deficient brains. (A) Map2 immunostaining revealed defective dendrite structures of pyramidal neurons in CxCdk5KO mice. Apical dendrites of pyramidal cortical neurons were typically Map2-positive in the control (inset, arrowheads). This pattern was missing, with only a few Map2-positive radial dendrites observed in the superficial layer of the CxCdk5KO cortex (inset, arrowheads). Insets are higher magnifications of the areas indicated by the arrows. Overall, staining of Map2 immunoreactivity was reduced in the CxCdk5KO cortex. (B) Protein levels for Map2, NF-M and actin were examined in the dissected cerebral cortices from control and CxCdk5KO mice at P10. The reduction in Map2/actin in CxCdk5KO mice was also confirmed by western blotting. ^*, P<0.01. The level of NF-M/actin was not significantly altered in CxCdk5KO mice. (C,D) Cortico-thalamic neurons, corresponding to layer VI neurons, extended their apical dendrite toward the pia in Cdk5^-/- (C) and CxCdk5KO (D) mice. Arrows indicate apical dendrites and arrowheads indicate their axons. Scale bars: 100 µm.