Fig 1.
MRI parameters in control and CKD mice.
T1 time (A), T2 time (B), T2* time (C), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC, D), and fractional anisotropy (FA, E) were determined in the renal cortex (CTX), outer medulla (OM) and total volume (Total) of control (black circles, n = 15) and CKD kidneys (white circles, n = 16). Mean values are displayed by horizontal lines. * p <0.05, ** p <0.01.
Fig 2.
Comparison of histology, morphological and functional MRI.
Representative hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) stained kidney sections (A), T2 weighted turbo spin echo (TSE) MR images (B), T2 relaxation time maps (C) and T2* relaxation time maps (D) of control (left) and CKD mice (right). Renal regions are indicated as CTX, cortex, OM, outer medulla, and IM, inner medulla. Scale bars, 1 mm.
Fig 3.
Representative hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) stained kidney sections from control (A) and CKD (B) mice under polarized light (left) and brightfield illumination (right). Number (C), total area (D) and size (E) of crystal deposits, cell density (F), as well as area of tubular lumina (G) and normal tubules (H) were quantified in the renal cortex and outer medulla of control (black bars, n = 15) and CKD kidneys (dashed bars, n = 16). Scale bars, 50 μm. ** p <0.01.
Fig 4.
Tubulointerstitial inflammation and loss of peritubular capillaries in CKD kidneys.
Kidney sections of control and CKD mice were stained for macrophages (A), neutrophils (B), and vascular endothelium (C). Shown are representative immunohistochemical stainings of control and CKD kidneys and quantitative analyses of each staining categorized for renal cortex and outer medulla. Black bars represent control (n = 15) and dashed bars CKD kidneys (n = 16). Scale bars, 50 μm. ** p <0.01.
Fig 5.
Interstitial fibrosis in CKD kidneys.
Kidney sections of control and CKD mice were stained for Sirius red (A), collagen IV (B), and fibronectin (C). Shown are representative (immuno-) histological stainings of control and CKD kidneys and quantitative analyses of each staining categorized for renal cortex and outer medulla. Black bars represent control (n = 15) and dashed bars CKD kidneys (n = 16). Scale bars, 50 μm. ** p <0.01.
Table 1.
Correlation between MRI and histological parameters in the renal cortex and outer medulla of control and CKD kidneys.
Table 2.
Correlation of histological parameters among each other in the renal cortex and outer medulla of control and CKD kidneys.
Table 3.
Correlation of MRI and histological parameters between renal cortex and outer medulla in control and CKD kidneys.
Fig 6.
MRI parameters depending on paraformaldehyde fixation.
T1 time (A), T2 time (B), T2* time (C), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC, D) and fractional anisotropy (FA, E) were determined in the renal cortex, outer medulla and total volume of control (black symbols and solid lines, n = 8) and CKD (white symbols and dashed lines, n = 8) kidneys after extraction (unfixed) and 16 hours after fixation with paraformaldehyde. Given are mean and standard error. * p <0.05.