The cardiac phenotypes of embryos injected with Nkx2.5-MO, Nkx2.7- MO and Nkx2.5/2.7-MO.

Embryos derived from the transgenic line of Tg(cmlc2::GFP) were used, and the cardiac morphology was observed by fluorescence microscope. The major cardiac phenotype of Nkx2.5/2.7-MO morphants revealed unlooping defects and shrunken ventricle; the major phenotype for Nkx2.7-MO morphants was looping defects with a lesser rate of shrunken ventricle. The Nkx2.5-MO morphants displayed no obvious cardiac phenotype except pericardial edema. (“—“ represents no observation.) The percentage of each abnormal phenotype was counted individually.