Fig. 6. Notch1 loss alters the expression of the diffusible ligands Kitl and
Tgfß. (A) Quantitative reverse transcriptase (qRT)-PCR of
Tgfß signaling components and a downstream target (Col1a2). (B)
qRT-PCR of the genes specified using Notch1- and
Tgfbr2-deficient hair bulbs. (C) qRT-PCR of Kitl
using hair follicle total RNA from the genotypes specified. (D)
Immunohistochemical staining of wild-type and
Msx2Cre;Notch1flox/flox;Rosa26R/+ mice with Dct (green)
and ß-galactosidase (lacZ, red). Nuclei were stained with DAPI.
Note that melanocytes (Dct positive) do not show ß-galactosidase
staining. (E) The ratio of melanocytes (Dct positive) to the matrix
cells in each follicle was obtained from the different genotypes specified.
Notice the reduced number of melanocytes in Notch1-deficient hair follicles
(*P<0.0001 in both WT versus em-N1 and an-N1 versus
em-N1). Error bars represent s.e.m. (A-C) and s.d. (D). Scale bar: 50
µm.