FIGURE 3. Cdx2-deficient cells maintain developmental potential but are unable to implant after nuclear transfer.

a, b, In each example shown, five nuclear transfer blastocysts were transferred at day 3.5 into the uterus of a day 2.5 pseudo-pregnant female. a, Cdx2-deficient blastocysts fail to implant. A representative uterus isolated at day 6.5 is shown. No deciduae were detectable from transplanted Cdx2-deficient blastocysts. b, Control nuclear transfer blastocysts showed normal implantation sites at day 6.5. c, Bright-field image of a postnatal Cdx2^2Lox ES chimaera. d, GFP signal indicates a contribution from Cdx2^2Lox ES cells. e–g, Histological sections and anti-GFP staining from a newborn Cdx2^2Lox chimaera. There was a contribution to the liver (endoderm; e) and muscle (mesoderm; f) but not to the intestine (g). h, Anti-Cdx2 staining of the intestine shown in g. i, Coat colour contribution of Cdx2^2Lox ES cells. Recipient blastocysts have a C57BL/6 DBA/2 F₁ background and the Cdx2^2Lox ES cells a C57BL/6 129SvJae background. The presence of agouti (129/SvJae) fur indicates donor cell contribution. A litter with one wild type (black mouse below the top agouti), two low-contribution (middle) and two high-contribution chimaeras are shown.