Figure 3.

Temporal progression of epithelial cytopathology in distal convoluted tubules (DCT) of 11βHSD2^−/− mice. (A) Control C57BL/6J mouse (60 d old). The cuboidal epithelium has apical nuclei and basal striations. (B) A 35-d-old 11βHSD2^−/− mouse. The epithelium is columnar, and the number of cross-sectional nuclei is increased, indicative of hypertrophy and hyperplasia, respectively. (C) A 60-d-old 11βHSD2^−/− mouse. In addition to epithelial hypertrophy and hyperplasia, there are multiple binucleate cells (arrows). (D) A 60-d-old 11βHSD2^−/− mouse. Apical cytoplasmic blebs project into the lumen (arrows). (E) A 120-d-old 11βHSD2^−/− mouse. Epithelial nuclei are irregular as a result of crowding and piling. A large hyperchromatic nucleus (*) suggests polyploidy. A cluster of epithelial cells projects into the lumen apparently with minimal contact with the basement membrane (arrow). (E, inset) A detached raft of epithelial cells lies in the tubule lumen. (F) A 120-d-old 11βHSD2^−/− mouse. In addition to striking hypertrophy and irregular nuclear placement within the cells, there is loss of basal striations and granular cytoplasmic aggregates indicative of subcellular disorganization. Hematoxylin and eosin stain; Bars = 10 μm.