Xenbase Image ID: 74558

Fig. 1. Transgenic overexpression of Ptf1a and Ptf1a-VP16 promotes ectopic pancreas formation. (A) Control St.44 Elas-GFP transgenic tadpole showing GFP expression only in the pancreas (p). No expression is seen in the stomach and duodenum (st + d). (B) St.45 TTR-Ptf1a:Elas-GFP transgenic tadpole. No stomach or duodenum is evident and instead ectopic GFP is detected throughout this region (p + ep). The liver (l) is normal. (C) St.45 TTR-Ptf1a-VP16:Elas-GFP transgenic tadpole. Ectopic expression (ep) of Elas-GFP is seen opposite the pancreas in the liver. Stomach and duodenum are normal. (The punctate GFP expression in between the ectopic and normal pancreas does not represent epithelial cells in the stomach or duodenum but are cells released from the ectopic pancreas due to mechanical abrasion during processing of samples for photography.) (D) Amylase RNA expression in stage 46/47 whole guts. (D) In control whole guts amylase is only detected in the pancreas. (E) In TTR-Ptf1a transgenics ectopic amylase expression is now seen in the stomach and duodenum that is fused with the normal pancreas (p + ep) and not in the liver. (F) Ectopic expression (ep) is seen in the livers of TTR-Ptf1a-VP16 tadpoles. (G) Insulin RNA expression in stage 46/47 whole guts. (G) In controls, insulin is found expressed in a punctate fashion within the pancreas. (H) In TTR-Ptf1a transgenics insulin expression is detected in the ectopic pancreatic tissue encompassing the stomach, duodenum and pancreas (p + ep). The normal pancreas is seen bulging out to the left, while the ectopic pancreas is fused with it just to the right. The shape of this ectopic pancreatic tissue resembles the normal stomach. The liver (l) is normal. (I) Expression of insulin is only seen in the pancreas of TTR-Ptf1a-VP16 transgenics. No expression is seen in the ectopic pancreas (ep). (J) Glucagon RNA expression in stage 46/47 whole guts. (J) In controls, glucagon is expressed in a punctate fashion much like insulin. (K) In TTR-Ptf1a transgenics, ectopic glucagon expression is detected in the stomach and duodenum (p+ep). (L) In TTR-Ptf1a-VP16 transgenics, no ectopic glucagon expression is detected outside the pancreas. Image published in: Jarikji ZH et al. (2007) Copyright © 2007. Image reproduced with permission of the Publisher, Elsevier B. V. Larger Image Printer Friendly View

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