Fig. 3: Differentiation of podocytes stimulated mitochondrial function.

a Representative confocal and electron microscopy (EM) images showing alterations in mitochondrial morphologies between podocytes as indicated. In the confocal images, cells are labeled with MitoTracker Red (red) for mitochondria and DAPI (blue) for nuclear. Left scale bar=2 µm. Right scale bar=500 nm. Pictures show representative fields of over 10 cells photographed. Statistical analyses showing the average size of mitochondria (b) and the proportion of total mitochondrial in podocytes (c), and data were measured by ImageJ. d Mitochondrial mass stained by MitoTracker Red and measured by Flow Cytometer (n = 3). e Mitochondrial membrane potential labeled with the fluorescent dye JC-1 and measured by Flow Cytometer (n = 3). Real-time PCR analysis of mRNAs involved in mitochondrial dynamics (Opa-1 and Drp-1, F) and mitochondrial biogenesis (Pgc-1α and Tfam, G) in cultured podocytes (n = 3). h, i Representative western blotting results of relevant protein levels (n = 3). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, determined by t test. Data are shown as the means ± SD.