Figure 2.

Cx32 deficiency exacerbates renal fibrosis in STZ‐induced diabetic mice. (a) Glomerular histopathology analysis by periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS) staining (400× magnification). (b,c) The FBG and body weight of diabetic mice were analysed. (d) The expression of fibronectin (FN) and Cx32 in the glomeruli were shown by immunohistochemical staining (400× magnification). (e) The kidney weight/body weight ratio was calculated to evaluate the kidney hypertrophy index. (f) Serum Cr was detected to assess renal injury. (g) The expression of fibronectin in the kidney of mice were measured by western blot assay. (h,i) Serum BUN and 24‐hr UP were assayed to assess renal injury. The data are presented as the means ± SD; n = 6 (two outliers were excluded). ^# P < .05, significantly different from WT; ^* P < .05, significantly different from WT + STZ. BUN, blood urea nitrogen; Cr, serum creatinine; FBG, fasting blood glucose; KO, knockout; STZ, streptozocin; UP 24 hr, urine protein for 24 hr; WT, wild type