Fig. 2

ECM accumulation is increased in the TM of B6.EDA^+/+ mice. A, B, C Montage of low magnification images (2650×) shows entire TM and inner part of SC in eyes of C57BL/6 J control (A), B6.EDA^+/+ (B), and EDA^−/− mice (C). Regions outlined in the red box in upper panels are enlarged in lower panels (C57BL/6J (E), B6.EDA^+/+ (F), and B6.EDA^−/− (G)). Throughout the entire length of the TM fewer empty spaces (green asterisks) exist in the TM of B6.EDA^+/+ eyes compared to C57BL/6J controls. A network of ECM surrounds the inner most part of the TM in B6.EDA^+/+ eyes (red arrows), while it is almost absent in C57BL/6J control eyes. D. Area occupied by ECM in the TM was significantly increased in B6.EDA^+/+ eyes compared to C57Bl/6J and B6.EDA^−/− eyes. Significance determined by one-way ANOVA, *** = p < 0.001, ** = p < 0.01, n = 3 mice/strain, two planes of stitched sections along the entire length of SC analyzed per mouse, scale bar = 5 µm