Identification of loop-vessel countercurrent arrangements in the early development of mouse kidney based on digital tracing and immunohistochemistry

摘要

The proper establishment of loop-vessel countercurrent arrangement in medulla provides the basis for formation of the concentrated urine.To date,the morphogenesis of it has not been fully discovered.The present study investigated the spatial arrangement of nephron loop and vessel of developing kidneys using 3D visualization technique and immunohistochemistry for AQP-1 and NKCC2.Five-mm-thick serial paraffin sections were obtained from E14.5 and P5 kidneys and stained with hematoxylin,while 2.5-mm-thick serial epoxy sections were obtained from E17.5 and P56 kidneys and stained with toluidine blue.