Fig. 1.

Vimentin (vim) expression is important for the development murine renal fibrosis following unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Following UUO, mice kidneys were harvested and underwent immunohistochemistry (IHC) with anticollagen 11α antibody (A–F) or Masson’s trichrome staining (H–L). Four weeks post-UUO, there was a significant decrease in the intensity of anticollagen signal comparing control mice (E) and vim −/− mice (F). Unligated control kidneys show very minimal staining (A), whereas 2 wk post-UUO, there is little difference in collagen staining comparing control vs. vim −/− mice (C vs. D). Masson’s trichrome staining also showed a decrease in collagen deposition (blue staining) comparing control (K) and vim −/− mice (L) 2 wk following UUO. Unligated control kidneys display no significant evidence of collagen deposition in the renal cortex. Size bars = 50 μm. Quantification of collagen deposition following UUO was carried out utilizing the ImageJ software as described previously. Signal intensity was calculated for both IHC and trichrome staining. Samples were then normalized to unligated control kidneys. Data represent three separate experiments, looking at five sections. Collagen deposition by IHC showed a >50% decrease in collagen staining at 4 wk (G). There was a smaller but significant decrease in intensity of trichrome staining at 2 wk (M). n = 3. Error bars = standard deviations, *P < 0.05.