Histomorphology and Immunohistochemistry of a Congenital Nephromegaly Demonstrate Concurrent Features of Heritable and Acquired Cystic Nephropathies in a Girgentana Goat (Capra falconeri)

Figure 2

Expression of vimentin, cytokeratin, and E-cadherin (immunohistochemistry). Cytokeratin (a–d): (a) no visible cytokeratin expression within glomerular structures (G), single pericytes weakly express cytokeratin (arrow). (b) Homogenous expression pattern within the polypoid proliferates/projections, which additionally lack expression of cytokeratin 7 (inset). (c, d) Protrusions and the epithelial lining of the cysts feature a homogenous expression pattern. Vimentin (e–h): (e) vimentin gets expressed in the podocytes (arrow) of the glomeruli (G). (f) Furthermore, it is homogenously expressed in the polypoid proliferates and indicates a divergent expression pattern in protrusions (g) and cyst wall linings (h), showing positive (arrow) and negative sections (arrowhead). E-cadherin (i–l): (i) there is no E-cadherin expression within glomerular structures (G). (j) The epithelial proliferates/projections occur with a complete or apical (inset) loss of E-cadherin, sometimes associated with a basal displacement of E-cadherin expression. Cell morphology is characterized by a marked foamy cytoplasmic texture. E-cadherin mainly is expressed in intra- and intercellular areas of the protrusions (k) and the cyst wall lining (l).