Fig. 1

Morphologic characteristics of the graft do not match those of the neonatal kidney. (a) Transplantation of E12.5 kidneys into the peri-testicular fat. The left panel shows a planned transplant site (dotted circle). The middle and right panels show the transplanted embryonic kidneys at day 12. In the middle panel, the surface membrane of the graft was removed to visualize the overall appearance of the graft. In the right panel, the surface membrane was left intact to visualize the host blood vessel extending toward the graft. Arrows: a blood vessel from the host. Scale bars: 1.0 mm. (b) Size of the grafts and embryonic kidneys. The major and minor axis lengths of the transplanted embryonic kidneys (at day 12) were compared with those of the E15.5 and P0 kidneys (n = 15, 6, and 6, respectively). Multiple comparisons were performed using Dunnett’s T3 test. Fifteen grafts from eight independent transplantation experiments were analyzed. (c) Histologic analysis of the E15.5 and P0 kidneys and day 12 grafts. 1st column: Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Scale bars: 500 μm; 2nd column: Immunostaining of SLC12A1 (loops of Henle), KRT8 (collecting ducts), and CDH1 (collecting ducts and nephrons). Scale bars: 500 μm; 3rd and 4th columns: magnified images of the 2nd column. Scale bars: 100 μm. Three grafts from three independent transplantation experiments were analyzed.