Mice were fed with high salt diet for 2 weeks. A: RMIC COX-2 deficiency led to increases in aquaporin 2 (AQP2) mRNA and protein expression in the inner medullae/papillae. In addition, the immunostaining density in the apical plasma membrane was higher in RMIC COX-2−/− mice than in COX-2f/f mice (arrows), an indication of increased AQP2 activity. Original magnification: x 400. ***P < 0.001, n = 6 in the COX-2f/f group and n = 8 in the RMIC COX-2−/− group. Scale bar: 50 μM.
B: The mRNA levels of CFTR decreased in RMIC COX-2−/− mice. **P < 0.01, n = 6 in the COX-2f/f group and n = 8 in the RMIC COX-2−/− group.
C: The mRNA levels of ENaCα, EnaCγ, and Atp1b1 were increased in RMIC COX-2−/− mice. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, n = 6 in the COX-2f/f group and n = 8 in the RMIC COX-2−/− group. All values are means ± SEM. P values were calculated by Student’s t test.