Figure 1. Patterns of CXCL12, CXCR7, and CXCR4 mRNAs in the early developing kidney.

Adjacent kidney sections were hybridized with radiolabeled antisense riboprobes for CXCL12, CXCR7, and CXCR4 at E12.5 and E14.5. (A, D) CXCL12 expression pattern changed remarkably from E12.5 to E14.5 as no CXCL12 mRNA could be detected within the E12.5 kidney. At E14.5, CXCL12 signals are present in the kidney in stromal cells (asteristics in D), around the ureter (u) as well as in glomeruli (arrowheads in D). (B, E) CXCR7 mRNA is expressed in the region of the renal capsule (rc) and ureter at both indicated embryonic stages. The gene is also active in some ureteric buds (open arrows in B, E), immature glomeruli (closed arrows in E), and mature glomeruli (arrowheads in E). (C, F) CXCR4 mRNA is highly expressed in mesenchymal cells below the rc region at E12.5 (arrowheads in C) as well as in the cap mesenchyme at E14.5 (cm in F). CXCR4 is also expressed in some ureteric buds at E12.5 (open arrows in C). At E14.5, CXCR4 expression is found in presumptive blood vessels (closed arrows in F) and glomerular tufts (arrowheads in F). Allocation of detection signals to renal structures was performed using counterstaining with hematoxylin & eosin. ag, adrenal gland; ov, ovarium; Scale bars correspond to 100 µm.