Analyses of cilia in the trachea epithelial cells and brain ependymal cells by scanning electronic microscopy and immunofluorescence staining.

<p>Representative images from SEM analyses from wild-type and <i>Spag6</i>-deficient mice. Cilia of the wild type mice were well-organized in both brain ependymal cells (A) and trachea epithelial cells (C). In contrast, there was a dramatic reduction in cilia density in both brain ependymal cells (B) and trachea epithelial cells (D) of the <i>Spag6</i>-deficient mice, and the cilia were disorganized. To calculate the percentage of ciliated cells, cells with cilia and total cells were counted from three (brain) or four (trachea) SEM images from each mouse, and ratio was calculated (E). Three wild-type and three <i>Spag6</i>-deficient mice were analyzed. * Significant differences vs. wild-type (p<0.05). Brain and trachea sections from wild type and <i>Spag6</i>-deficient mice were examined by immunofluorescence staining using an antibody targeting acetylated tubulin. In the wild type mice, the cilia-containing signal was continuously observed along the surface of the epithelial cells. However, in the <i>Spag6</i>-deficient mice, the signal was discontinuous (F).