Figure 5.

GSPE treatment lessens the unilateral IR-induced chronic renal fibrosis. Mice were treated with GSPE or PBS after exposure to unilateral IR for 30 min, and the kidneys were collected on the 14th day. (A) Western blot analysis of fibrotic markers induced by unilateral IR: PDGFR-β, collagen I, vimentin and α-SMA; (B) The histogram shows relative intensity for each marker normalized to β-actin. Masson’s (C) and Sirius Red (D) staining showing collagen deposition; (E) Immunohistochemical staining of fibrotic markers: PDGFR-β, collagen IV and α-SMA was performed to detect the degree of tubulointerstitial fibrosis in these four groups. The data shown are mean ±SEM (** p < 0.01; n = 7 per group).