Figure 1 | Scientific Reports

Figure 1

From: Activation of mineralocorticoid receptor by ecdysone, an adaptogenic and anabolic ecdysteroid, promotes glomerular injury and proteinuria involving overactive GSK3β pathway signaling

Figure 1

Ecdysone treatment elicits albuminuria and histologic signs of glomerulopathy. Mice received daily subcutaneous injection of ecdysone (6 µg/g/d) or equal volume of solvent vehicle (DMSO) for 2 weeks. (A) Urine was collected on day 14 and subjected to SDS-PAGE and staining with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) 5, 10, and 20 μg, served as standard control. Urine samples (15 μL) collected from each group were loaded. (B) Quantification of urine albumin levels adjusted with urine creatinine concentrations, ***P < 0.001 compared with control group (n = 6). (C) Mice were sacrificed on day 14 and kidneys collected and processed for periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining for light microscopy (Bar = 20 µm) or for electron microscopy (EM, Bar = 2 µm). (D,E) Computerized morphometric analysis of glomerular volumes and mesangial-to-glomerular area ratios, ***P < 0.001 vs control group (n = 6). (F) Absolute count of the number of foot processes per unit length of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) on electron micrographs of kidney specimens. **P < 0.01 vs control group (n = 6).

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