| |
Fig. 7. Immunolabeling of larval and adult Xenopus epithelia with β1-integrin (β1-itg). (A–D) Confocal images showing that expression of β1-itg (green) is restricted to basal epithelial cells of the tadpole cornea. (A′-D′) Merged images for A-D with Hoechst labeled nuclei (magenta). (A-A′) Apical epithelial cells of the central cornea with no β1-itg label detected. (B-B′) β1-itg staining is predominantly membranous in the basal epithelial cells of the central cornea. Weak cytoplasmic expression is also observed in these cells. (C-C′) β1-itg staining is undetectable in the apical cells of the peripheral cornea. (D-D′) β1-itg stained basal epithelial cells in the peripheral cornea. (E–H) Fluorescence light microscopic images displaying β1-itg (green) antibody labeling on cryosections of adult Xenopus tissues, as labeled. The apical surface is located towards the top of each image, and the basal surface towards the bottom. (H′-K′) Merged images for H-K with Hoechst labeled nuclei (magenta). (E-E′) β1-itg is expressed throughout the entire thickness of the central corneal epithelium. A gradient in expression is observed, with the basal epithelial cells showing the highest expression. (F-F′) Limbal epithelial cells express β1-itg, with the maximum expression present in the basal layer. Moderate expression of β1-itg is seen in stromal cells underneath the corneal epithelium. (G-G′) Ventral eyelid showing β1-itg immunoreactivity. Basal cells in the outer surface of the ventral eyelid have higher expression of β1-itg. (H-H′) Epithelial cells in the skin display β1-itg labeling, with basal cells having the highest expression. ive, inner ventral eyelid; ove, outer ventral eyelid. Scale bar in H′ equals 25 μm for A-D, A′-D′, and 50 μm for E-H, E′-H’. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.) |
