Figure 3
Sirolimus treatment of experimental FSGS did not change albuminuria, podocyte injury and podocyte number. (A) Sirolimus treated mice did not show a lower albumin/creatinine ratio compared to control mice at day 4 and (B) day 7. Sirolimus treated mice n = 12, phosal treated mice n = 8. Mean with SD is shown. ns P ≥ 0.05. (C, D, E) Representative images of glomeruli stained against synaptopodin (C, D, red) and desmin (C, E, green). (C) A healthy glomerulus (a) only shows desmin expression in the mesangial cells. In diseased glomeruli (b) desmin staining can also be detected in podocytes (co-localizing with synaptopodin expression (C, yellow, arrow)). (F) Glomerular desmin expression was similar in the sirolimus and control group. Sirolimus treated mice n = 4, phosal treated mice n = 4. Mean with SD is shown. ns P ≥ 0.05. (G, H, I) Representative images of glomeruli stained against synaptopodin (G, H, red) and DACH1 (G, I, yellow). (G) A line was drawn surrounding the tuft area to measure it. The whole tuft area was selected also in case no or less synaptopodin signal was present (example glomerulus a). (J) Phosal and sirolimus treated mice have a similar number of DACH1 positive podocytes per mm2 of the tuft area. Sirolimus treated mice n = 6, phosal treated mice n = 6. Mean with SEM is shown. ns P ≥ 0.05.
