Phenotypic Transition of the Collecting Duct Epithelium in Congenital Urinary Tract Obstruction
Figure 5
Vimentin and collagen IV immunoreactivity. Normal kidneys ((a)–(c)). (a) Interstitial expression of vimentin-IR (blue) (arrow) and diffuse cytoplasmic expression of collagen IV (ColIV)-IR (red) (arrowhead) are present in the mid gestation (18 weeks) kidney. (b) Thin, regular, well-defined expression of ColIV-IR in the CD basement membranes (arrows) is well established by late gestation (27 weeks), and (c) persists postnatally (12 months) (arrows). Obstructed kidneys ((d)–(f)). (d) De novo basolateral expression of vimentin-IR (blue) (arrow) in the CD epithelium of the obstructed 18 weeks gestation kidney. (e) More pronounced vimentin-IR expression (arrowheads) and disruption of ColIV-IR expression (red) (arrows) in the CD basement membrane of the late gestation (36 weeks) obstructed CD epithelium, and (f) in the obstructed postnatal (16 months) kidneys. Deposition of ColIV-IR in the expanded interstitium (asterisk), and in the periductal collars (plus) is also present. Scale bar = 25 m.
