Figure 2.

Data from flow cytometric analysis of macrophage polarization (M1/M2) from kidneys and spleen from male Dahl SS rats drinking either 0.1M NaHCO₃ (bicarbonate) or equimolar NaCl (vehicle) are presented in figure 2a-c. All data are from rats placed on treated water (vehicle or bicarbonate) for 3 days before tissue harvest.

Panel a; the percentage of total kidney cells identified as M1 macrophages (CD11b/Figure 4/80⁺/TNFα⁺ cells) in vehicle (n=5; filled circles) and bicarbonate (n=5; filled squares) treated rats.

Panel b; the percentage of total kidney cells identified as M2 macrophages (CD11b/CD206⁺/IL10⁺ cells) in vehicle (n=5; filled circles) and bicarbonate (n=5; filled squares) treated rats.

Panel c; Relative expression of M1 and M2 macrophages expressed as % total kidney cells in vehicle (filled squares) and bicarbonate (open circles) treated rats.

Panels (d-f) Data from flow cytometric analysis of macrophage polarization (M1/M2) in kidneys of male Sprague Dawley rats (Charles River Laboratories) drinking either 0.1M NaHCO₃ (n=3), 0.05M NaHCO₃/0.05M NaCl (n=3), 0.01M NaHCO₃/0.09M NaCl (n=3) or 0.1M NaCl (n=3) for 4 days prior to tissue harvest. All rats were fed standard laboratory chow (Teklad).

Panel d; the percentage of total kidney cells identified as M1 macrophages (CD11b/Figure 4/80⁺/TNFα⁺ cells) in response to increasing concentrations of NaHCO₃ in drinking water (0M on right to 0.1M on left). All doses were made equimolar with addition of NaCl to the drinking water. Panel e; the percentage of total kidney cells identified as M2 macrophages (CD11b/CD206⁺/IL10⁺ cells) in response to increasing concentrations of NaHCO₃ in drinking water (0M on right to 0.1M on left). Panel f; Ratio of M1 to M2 macrophages expressed as % of total kidney cells in response to increasing concentrations of NaHCO₃ in drinking water.