Follistatin, an Activin Antagonist, Ameliorates Renal Interstitial Fibrosis in a Rat Model of Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction
Figure 5
Effects of follistatin on the production of extracellular matrix in kidneys after UUO. (a) Production of type I collagen (A–D), type III collagen (E–H), and fibronectin (I–L) in the UUO kidneys was examined by immunostaining. (A, E, I) normal kidney. (B, F, J) contralateral kidney. (C, G, K) saline-treated UUO kidney, 7 days. (D, H, L) follistatin-treated UUO kidney, 7 days. Type I collagen, type III collagen, and fibronectin (green). Magnification: ×100. (b) Quantitative analysis of extracellular matrix production. Type I collagen, type III collagen, and fibronectin-positive area in kidneys at 7 days after UUO was measured as described in Section 2. Values are mean ± SE (). . N.S., not significant.
