Fig. 3

Multiple ADSC infusions attenuated kidney damage in long-term T2DM complication rats. a–c Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and urine ACR of each group were evaluated. d Representative kidney sections staining with H&E, PAS, and Masson’s trichrome; bars = 50, 20, and 50 μm. e, f Histopathological damage scores and tubular damage score were graded using H&E-stained sections. g Glomerulosclerotic injury was graded using PAS-stained sections. h Interstitial fibrosis was graded using Masson-stained sections. i, j Immunohistochemical staining and quantification of α-SMA area, bars = 50 μm. k, l Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis of gene expression in kidney tissue from control, T2DM, and MSC groups. Results are presented relative to those of control rats, set as 1. N = 6 rats per group; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01