Fig. 1

Genetically modified mice harboring a cartilage-specific deletion of ephrin-B2 (EFNB2) were generated using the Cre Lox methodology. a Schematic representation of the EFNB2 knockout construct and primer design for the LoxP insertion in the EFNB2 gene (α-β) and EFNB2 exon 1 deletion (γ-β). b Representative genotyping that detects LoxP insertion in EFNB2 (552 base pairs (bp)), the presence of Cre transgene (700 bp) and EFNB2 exon 1 deletion (550 bp) in heterozygous (n = 8) and homozygous knockout (KO) (n = 8) mice at postnatal day zero (P0) (birth) and their absence in wild type (n = 8) mice assessed by PCR. MW molecular weight, KO knockout c Representative EFNB2 immunohistological staining of the tibial growth plate at P15 (n = 4) counterstained with methyl green, and of tibial cartilage and subchondral bone at 8 weeks old (n = 4) counterstained with hematoxylin and eosin. Immunohistological original magnification × 250 and insets × 400. Dotted-line boxes indicate the location of the insets; scale bar 100 μm; arrows indicate positive-stained cells