Cooperation of Nectin-1 and Nectin-3 Is Required for Maintenance of Epidermal Stratification and Proper Hair Shaft Formation in the Mouse

Figure 2

Histological abnormalities in skin morphology of the compound mutant. Sagittal cross sections of control ((a)–(e)) and nectin-1−/−; nectin-3+/− ((f)–(j)) dorsal skin at P10 stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The skin of nectin-1−/−; nectin-3+/− has a loose structure and tended to break between dermis and subcutis during sectioning ((a) and (f)). The epidermis of the nectin-1−/−; nectin-3+/− is more eosinophilic (red) compared with the control and the nuclei in the basal layer are spindle-like as compared with the round nuclei in control epidermis ((b), (c), (g), and (h)). Hair follicles of nectin-1−/−; nectin-3+/− are smaller and thinner compared with control and the structure of the hair shaft is disturbed ((d) and (i), arrowhead in (e) and (j)). In the lower part of hair follicle, the structure of the hair shaft is disturbed ((d), (i), arrowheads in (e) and (j)); the cell borders and nuclei of matrix cells are blurred in the nectin-1−/−; nectin-3+/− (arrows in (e) and (j)). Inset in (j) shows the hair follicle of prolonged staining with hematoxylin. Scale bars are 400 μm in (a) and (f); 200 μm in (b), (d), (g), and (i); 30 μm in (c) and (h); and 100 μm in (e) and (j).