Fig. 4: Effects of Kir4.2 deletion on kidney growth and nephron segment expansion.
From: Low potassium activation of proximal mTOR/AKT signaling is mediated by Kir4.2
A Kidney mass from Kir4.2+/+ and Kir4.2−/− mice on 0 K diet at indicated timepoints (p < 0.0001 for interaction). B Representative three-dimensional images from optically cleared Kir4.2+/+ and Kir4.2−/− kidneys stained for pNCC-T53. Animals were maintained on 0 K diet for eight days. C Quantification of DCT volume based on imaging as described in B (3.4 × 10−10). D Representative three-dimensional images from optically cleared Kir4.2+/+ and Kir4.2−/− kidneys stained with LTL-fluorescein and DAPI. Animals were maintained on 0 K diet for eight days. Yellow boxes indicate sections highlighted in (F). E Quantification of cortical thickness based on imaging as described in (D) (p = 2.5 × 10−4). F Representative 2-D projections from optically cleared Kir4.2+/+ and Kir4.2−/− kidneys stained with LTL-fluorescein. Yellow boxes indicate sections highlighted on the right. G Quantification of tubule thickness based on imaging as described in (F) (p = 5.8 × 10−4). In (A), N = 10 (t = 0), 5 (t = 4), and 11 (t = 8) for Kir4.2+/+ and N = 10 (t = 0), 15 (t = 4), and 14 (t = 8) for Kir4.2−/−, for (B–G), N = 3 per group †P < 0.05 for interaction between treatment and time variables by two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. * indicates P < 0.05 by unpaired Student’s t test. All tests were two-sided. Data presented as mean ± sem.
