Fig. 5

The administration of MSCs improved CLP-induced pathological changes in the kidneys of septic rats, while AF-MSCs more effectively reduced cell death and BUN levels than UC-MSCs. The histological changes in the kidney were identified by performing HE (a) and PAS (b) staining, while cell death was determined by performing TUNEL staining (c). The administration of MSCs improved CLP-induced histological changes (including vacuolization and oedema of the glomeruli and tubules) and cell death, while UC-MSCs more substantially reduced tubular necrosis, as evidenced by PAS staining (d, red arrow for normal tubules and black arrow for tubular lumens with a loss of brush borders), and AF-MSCs reduced cell death to a greater extent, as evidenced by TUNEL staining (e). Other assessment of biochemical parameters related to kidney function included measurements of BUN (f) and creatinine (g) levels. CLP increased BUN levels, a change that was improved by AF-MSCs but not by UC-MSCs; no significant difference in creatinine levels was observed among the four groups. a, scale bar = 200 μm; b, scale bar = 100 μm; c, scale bar = 100 μm. G, glomerulus; T, tubule; V, vacuolization. *p < 0.05; ns, no significant difference