Ex vivo deletion of Aurka increases CD41 and CD42 expression, DNA content, and apoptosis of megakaryocytes. (A-C) Deletion of Aurka by expression of Cre in Aurka^fl/fl cells (Aurka^−/−) significantly increased (A) CD41⁺CD42⁺ cells, (B) DNA content of CD41⁺ cells, and (C) apoptosis of the CD41⁺ population relative to Aurka^fl/fl cells without Cre (WT). (Left) Representative flow plots. (Right) Bar graphs of means ± SD; n = 4. (D) Flow cytometry was used to measure the size of the CD41⁺ cells after deletion; significant increases in cell size were observed across the different ploidy classes. (E) Quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR determination of expression changes in the master megakaryocyte regulator NF-E2 and β1-tubulin following Aurka deletion. Mean fold increases ± SD are shown. ***P < .001; *P < .05.