Bmp4 Is Essential for the Formation of the Vestibular Apparatus that Detects Angular Head Movements
Figure 2
Inner ear analyses of Bmp4 conditional null embryos.
Paint-filled inner ears of control Bmp4loxP/+ (A,G), Foxg1cre/+; Bmp4loxP/Tm1 (B–D,H) and TgPax2cre; Bmp4loxP/Tm1 (E,F) embryos at 11.5 (G,H) and 13.5 dpc (A–F). Inserts in (A)–(F) are ventral views of the cochlear duct. The most malformed inner ears of Foxg1cre/+; Bmp4loxP/Tm1 embryos are shown in (B) and (C), compared to controls (A). In (D), the inner ear is normal except for truncation of the lateral canal (arrows). A mildly (E) and more severely (F) affected inner ear of TgPax2cre; Bmp4loxP/Tm1 embryos. Inner ears of Bmp4loxP/+ (G) and (H) Foxg1cre/+; Bmp4loxP/Tm1 embryos at 11.5 dpc. Arrow in (H) points to the smaller canal pouch in Foxg1cre/+; Bmp4loxP/Tm1 embryos. Orientations in (G) apply to all panels. Scale bars in (F) and (H) apply to (A–E) and (G), respectively.