Oviductal abnormalities in <i>Lkb1^cko</i> mice.

<p>Gross examination of 5 week old control (A) and <i>Lkb1^cko</i> mutant (B) mice revealed normal looking coiled oviducts. Oviducts of 18 week old control (C) and mutant (D) mice show the presence of cysts, which were either large as shown in Panel D or microscopic (not shown). Histology of 5 week old control (E, and higher magnification of boxed area F) and mutant (G–J) oviducts with abnormal epithelial and stromal cells. Higher magnification images of oviducts showing abnormal epithelium next to mutant stromal cells (H and J; arrow); normal looking epithelial cells (I; arrowhead) were present away from the stromal cells. Colocalization of desmin and αSMA in 5 week old (n = 3) control (K–L) and mutant (M–N) oviducts. White arrowheads mark abnormal cell growth in mutant oviducts. Histology of 18 week old control (O) and mutant (P) oviducts showed greater stromal expansion in the mutants, which was confirmed by co-immunostaining with desmin and αSMA of adult control (Q) and mutant (R) oviducts. Masson's Trichrome staining indicates significantly greater collagen deposition (blue) in 18 week old mutant oviducts (T–V) compared to controls (S). Ovi; oviducts; O; ovary, Ut; uterus. Bars: 50 um.