Fig. 1.
Induction and confirmation of heparin-binding (HB) epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like factor deletion. A: X-gal staining (blue) showed that HB-EGF gene was expressed and had been deleted in the endothelium of glomerular and peritubular capillaries in HBendo−/− mouse kidneys 2 wk after tamoxifen (TAM) injection. The kidney from HBlox/lox mice was used as a negative control. Counterstain: sirius red. B: experimental protocol. HB-EGF deletion was induced by TAM injection at the age of 8 wk. Uninephrectomy (UNx) was performed in all mice, and minipumps infusing angiotensin II (Ang II; n = 7) or normal saline (NS; n = 6) were implanted subcutaneously and replaced after 4 wk. Measurements and tissue sampling were performed before and after Ang II or normal saline infusion.