The condensing mesenchyme cell population is reduced in <i>β-cat</i>^<i>S-/</i>- mutant kidneys.

<p>(A,B) As compared to <i>WT</i>, which demonstrates 3–4 cell layers of aggregated condensing mesenchyme, <i>β-cat</i>^<i>S-/</i>- kidneys display a reduced, single cell layer of loosely aggregated condensing mesenchyme. (C-H) Analysis of cell proliferation in the condensing mesenchyme was performed using Brdu cell proliferation assay. (C-E) As compared to <i>WT</i>, <i>β-cat</i>^<i>S-/</i>- mutants demonstrated a 6.46% reduction in condensing mesenchyme cell proliferation at E14.5 (<i>WT</i>, 34.56%±1.45, n = 28 versus <i>β-cat</i>^<i>S-/</i>-, 28.02%±1.05, n = 27, p = 0.0006). (F-G) At E15.5 <i>β-cat</i>^<i>S-/</i>- mutants demonstrated a 7.35% reduction in condensing mesenchyme cell proliferation when compared to <i>WT</i> (<i>WT</i>, 34.09%±1.65, n = 17 versus <i>β-cat</i>^<i>S-/</i>-, 26.73%±2.21, n = 15, p = 0.01). (I,J) A TUNEL assay at E15.5 did not reveal any changes in apoptosis in the condensing mesenchyme between <i>WT</i> and <i>β-cat</i>^<i>S-/</i>-. Scale Bar = 50μm