Figure 2 |. Effect of transient receptor potential cation channel C6 (TRPC6) knockout (KO) on albuminuria and kidney histopathology.

(a) KO of TRPC6 reduced albuminuria at 12 and 16 weeks of age, but this difference disappeared by 20 weeks of age. (b,c) Mesangial expansion was significantly increased in KO Akita mice compared with wild-type (WT) Akita mice. (d) Tubular injury was significantly decreased in KO Akita mice compared with WT Akita mice. (e) Tubulointerstitial (TI) inflammation also tended to be decreased in KO Akita mice compared with WT Akita mice, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.0604). (f–h) Focal areas of foot process effacement were seen in both groups of Akita mice compared with nondiabetic WT and KO mice (nondiabetic controls). (i) Glomerular basement membrane (GBM) width was similar in all groups. For ultrastructural studies, 3–4 mice were studied per group. *P < 0.05 or †P < 0.001 versus WT Akita mice. RBC, red blood cell. To optimize viewing of this image, please see the online version of this article at www.kidney-international.org.