Figure 2.

miR-143/145–deficient mice develop hydronephrosis. A: Kidneys from 2-month-old WT and miR-143/145 KO mice. miR-143/145 KO mice develop hydronephrosis, which is characterized by marked dilatation of the pelvis and calyces (arrowheads) and accompanied by severe atrophy of the papilla (arrow). B: Hematoxylin and eosin staining of transversal kidney sections of 3-month-old male mice. miR-143/145 KO kidneys show severe atrophy of the papilla and dilatation of the pelvis. Lower panels show in more detail the boxed areas indicated in the upper panels. Hematoxylin and eosin staining does not show morphologic changes at the level of the renal cortex in mice lacking miR-143/145. The structure of glomeruli, blood vessels, and tubules is conserved in mutant mice. Asterisk, glomerulus; arrows, afferent arteriole. Scale bars: 500 μm (B, upper panel); 50 μm (B, lower panel). c, cortex; m, medulla; p, papilla.