Fig. 6.

Effect of Vtn expression on interstitial α-smooth muscle actin (SMA)⁺ myofibroblast numbers after UUO. α-SMA⁺ interstitial myofibroblasts appear de novo in the interstitium after UUO. The number of α-SMA⁺ interstitial cells was significantly lower in the Vtn−/− mice 14 days after UUO, but numbers were similar on days 7 and 21. Bars represent means ± 1 SD (n = 6–11/group). Representative day 14 immunohistochemical photomicrographs illustrate fewer α-SMA⁺ interstitial cells in a Vtn−/− kidney compared with Vtn+/+ kidney. Magnification ×500.