Morphology and body weights of <i>Kcnj13</i> null mutant mice.

<p>a. Analysis of Kir7.1 expression in WT, heterozygous and null mutant mice; cyclophilin A (Cyc1) is used as constitutively expressed control gene. b. Gross morphology of WT, and heterozygous and homozygous <i>Kcnj13</i> null mutant newborn pups. c. Body weight vs. embryonic stage for WT (circles), <i>Kcnj13</i>^<i>+/-</i> (triangles), and <i>Kcnj13</i>^-/- (squares) embryos. Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. of the following numbers of embryos: 12.5 dpc: WT 3, <i>Kcnj13</i>^<i>+/-</i> 9, <i>Kcnj13</i>^-/- 4; 13.5 dpc: WT 9, <i>Kcnj13</i>^<i>+/-</i> 14, <i>Kcnj13</i>^-/- 2; n 14.5 dpc: WT 3, <i>Kcnj13</i>^<i>+/-</i> 11, <i>Kcnj13</i>^-/- 6; 15.5 dpc: WT 7, <i>Kcnj13</i>^<i>+/-</i> 20, <i>Kcnj13</i>^-/- 14; 16.5 dpc: WT 7, <i>Kcnj13</i>^<i>+/-</i> 5, <i>Kcnj13</i>^-/- 4; 17.5 dpc:WT 5, <i>Kcnj13</i>^<i>+/-</i> 12, <i>Kcnj13</i>^-/- 6; 18.5 dpc: WT 4, <i>Kcnj13</i>^<i>+/-</i> 5, <i>Kcnj13</i>^-/- 6; P0: WT 7, <i>Kcnj13</i>^<i>+/-</i> 15, <i>Kcnj13</i>^-/- 10. * p< 0.001; ** p <0.05 for the differences between <i>Kcnj13</i>^-/- and <i>Kcnj13</i>^<i>+/+</i> data (ANOVA).</p

Basolateral expression of Kir7.1 channel in the epithelium of the airways.

<p>Immunohistochemical detection of Kir7.1 channel in trachea (left) and bronchiole (right) in adult <i>Kcnj13</i>^+/+, newborn <i>Kcnj13</i>^+/+ or newborn <i>Kcnj13</i>^-/- mice. Tissue sections were treated with anti-Kir7.1 antibody (1:15,000). Kir7.1 expression was restricted to the basolateral membrane of airway epithelium in adult and newborn <i>Kcnj13</i>^+/+ mice. Staining in <i>Kcnj13</i>^-/- tissues shows complete absence of specific immunoreactive signal. Nuclei were counterstained with Fast Red. Scale bar represents 50 μm.</p

Pulmonary abnormalities in embryonic lungs from <i>Kcnj13</i>^-/- mice.

<p>a. Hematoxylin and eosin stained lung sections taken at various gestational stages as indicated. Morphological differences in KO lungs were observed at E18.5 and P0. Null mutant mice show a lower air space and thicker walls at lung terminal sacs compared to WT and heterozygous mice. No differences were visible between <i>Kcnj13</i>^+/+ and <i>Kcnj13</i>^+/- genotypes. Scale bars represent 100 μm. b. Morphometric analysis of terminal sac spaces in lungs at various gestational stages. Significant reduction in spaces was observed in Kir7.1 deficient mice from E18.5 onwards. Results are expressed as mean ± S.E.M, # p<0.05 and * p<0.01 for the difference with WT by ANOVA. c. Graphical representation of newborn lung flotation test. Grey sections of columns correspond to percent of floating lungs, with black being the percent sinking lungs.</p

Survival of <i>Kcnj13</i>^- mutant mice.

<p>Survival of <i>Kcnj13</i>^- mutant mice.</p