Fig. 9. Expression of Pax5 and Pax8 is downregulated in DKO and Pax2^-/- spinal cords. (A-C) Pax5 expression is lost in the Pax2^-/- and DKO cord at E12.5. Some ventral Pax5⁺ cells persist in the DKO cord. (D-F) At E17.5, Pax5 expression is partially lost in the DKO cord but, unlike Pax8, it is completely abolished in Pax2^-/- cord. (G-I) At E12.5, Pax8 expression is gradually downregulated dorsally but maintained ventrally at reduced levels in both the Pax2 and Lhx1; Lhx5 DKO-mutant cord. (J-L) At E17.5, there is a complete loss of Pax8 expression dorsally. Some Pax8 expression is retained ventrally in the Pax2^-/- cord. The DKO cord shows a partial loss of Pax8 expression in both dorsal and ventral regions.