Myocardin regulates expression of contractile genes in smooth muscle cells and is required for closure of the ductus arteriosus in mice
J. Clin. Invest. Jianhe Huang, et al. 118:515 doi:10.1172/JCI33304 [Go to this article.]

Figure 3
Myocd^F/F/Wnt1-Cre⁺ mutant mice exhibit PDA. (A) Intracardiac injection of toluidine blue reveals normal patterning of cardiac outflow tract and great arteries in a P2 Myocd^F/F control mouse. At P2 the DA is functionally occluded, giving rise to the ligamentum arteriosus (LA). RCA, right CA; LCA, left CA. (B) H&E-stained transverse section cut at the level of the AAo and DAo in a P2 Myocd^F/F control mouse, demonstrating occlusion of the DA and concomitant formation of the LA. Br, bronchus; Eso, esophagus. (C) Serial H&E-stained section cut at the level of the PA and DAo of a P2 Myocd^F/F control mouse. (D) H&E-stained caudal section cut at the level of the PA and DAo of a P2 Myocd^F/F control mouse. (E) Intra-injection of toluidine blue demonstrating widely PDA in P2 Myocd^F/F/Wnt1-Cre⁺ mutant mouse. (F) H&E-stained transverse section cut at the level of the AAo and DA of Myocd^F/F/Wnt1-Cre⁺ mutant mouse demonstrating widely PDA. (G) Serial H&E-stained more caudally cut section at the level of the AAo and DA of Myocd^F/F/Wnt1-Cre⁺ mutant mouse demonstrating widely PDA. (H) Serial H&E-stained caudal section cut at the level of the PA and DA of Myocd^F/F/Wnt1-Cre⁺ mutant mouse demonstrating PDA. Original magnification, ×10 (A and E); ×200 (B–D and F–H).