Fig. 5. The growth plate in Evc^-/- mice. In all panels, the wild type is shown on the left, Evc^-/- mutant on the right. (A) Haematoxylin-Eosin staining of the upper end of the tibia of E17.5 embryos. The proliferative and hypertrophic zones are indicated by arrows. The mutant epiphysis lacks the normal convex shape. (B) von-Kossa staining of the upper end of tibia from E17.5 embryos. Arrows indicate absent perichondrial mineralisation. (C) Top, trichromic staining of the knee joint at P16 showing delay of secondary ossification and a defect in the shape of the tibial epiphysis. Below, magnification of the P16 growth plates from panels above, showing disorganised growth plate structure and fewer cells in the columns of proliferative chondrocytes.