Fig. 2.

Podocyte Vegf₁₆₄ overexpression in diabetic mice induces advanced diabetic glomerulopathy. In diabetic+doxycycline mice overexpressing podocyte Vegf₁₆₄ PAS staining shows (a, d–f) nodular glomerulosclerosis (blue arrows), (c, e, f) mesangiolysis (black asterisks) and (b, d–f) microaneurysms (black arrows); (c, d) arteriolar and vascular pole hyalinosis (white asterisks), (b, c) protein casts (green asterisks) and (a, c–e) glomerular adhesions to Bowman’s capsule are also shown. g Diabetic−doxycycline control and (h) non-diabetic+doxycycline mice overexpressing Vegf₁₆₄ showed moderate mesangial expansion. i Non-diabetic−doxycycline control mice showed normal glomerular structure. Scale bars (a–i), 40 μm. j Glomerular volumes show that glomerulomegaly was present in all diabetic mice, but was significantly increased by podocyte Vegf₁₆₄ overexpression (+doxycycline, black bar). Non-diabetic+doxycycline mice overexpressing podocyte Vegf₁₆₄, (light grey bar) had milder glomerulomegaly. White bar, non-diabetic control (−doxycycline); dark grey bar, diabetic control (−doxycycline). *p<0.05 vs non-diabetic −doxycycline control; ^†p<0.05 vs diabetic−doxycycline control