Fig. 2

MKPC injections significantly ameliorate the histologic features of chronic kidney injury in five-sixths nephrectomized mice. a–f Representative photomicrographs of PAS-stained kidney section before establishment a, and at 14 weeks b, d and 17 weeks c, e of CKD in mice treated with saline (left) or MKPCs (right). The glomeruloslcerosis was more prominent in the saline group than in the MKPC group 17 weeks after five-sixths nephrectomy and was expressed by the glomerulosclerosis index f. Scale bar: 50 μm. g–l Representative photomicrographs of Masson’s trichrome-stained kidney section before establishment g, and at 14 weeks h, j and 17 weeks i, k of CKD in mice treated with saline (left) or MKPCs (right). Interstitial fibrosis (arrow) was more extensive in the saline group h, i than in the MKPC group j, k. l Fractional interstitial fibrosis area. Scale bar: 200 μm. m–o Representative photomicrographs of Masson’s trichrome-stained kidney section at 17 weeks of CKD in mice treated with saline m or MKPCs n. *Five-sixths nephrectomized mice receiving MKPC showed less atrophic tubules, which was expressed by the fractional area of atrophic tubules o. Scale bar: 100 μm. *P <0.05 MKPC-treated vs. saline-treated group. Data presented as mean ± SD. Masson Masson’s trichrome stain, MKPC mouse kidney progenitor-like cells, PAS periodic acid-Schiff stain