Figure 3
From: Mechanism of cystogenesis by Cd79a-driven, conditional mTOR activation in developing mouse nephrons
Renal phenotypes at early postnatal stages in Cd79a-Tsc1 knockout (KO) mice. (a) Kidney sections (hematoxylin and eosin stain) and histology. Postnatal tubules at 1 to 4 weeks of age are stained by specific markers: LTL (proximal tubule), DBA (distal tubules to collecting duct), and AQP2 (collecting duct). Cysts are visible as early as 2 weeks of age mainly from the distal tubules to the collecting ducts in the outer cortex. (b) Comparison of proliferation activity between control and Cd79a-Tsc1 KO kidneys. Sections are stained by Ki-67. (c) Quantitative analysis. Cyst expansion is evaluated by the cystic index (%). Cysts grow remarkably after 2 weeks of age. Cell proliferation is assessed by counting the fraction of the pre-cystic and cystic tubule lining epithelial cells, in which the nuclei are costained with DBA and Ki-67 in the total number of DBA positive cells in each tubular. Proliferation of Cd79a-Tsc1 KO tubule cells persists even after 2 weeks of age, the time point of the developmental switch when proliferation abruptly ceases in control mice. Values represent mean ± SEM and statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA. *P < 0.05 and ****P < 0.0001.
