Research Paper Volume 12, Issue 17 pp 17601—17624

Figure 3. Quantitative analysis of migration and differentiation of tdTomato⁺PECs to a podocyte fate in aged kidneys. (A) Graphs showing the migration of tdTomato⁺PECs (red cells, y-axis) plotted against the number of podocytes per glomerulus (p57⁺ cells, x-axis) in young, middle age and aged mice in the OC, JMC and both compartments combined (OC and JMC). Young mice: There was no migration of tdTomato⁺PECs in the OC, and only one event of migration of a tdTomato⁺PEC to the glomerular tuft in JMC. When OC and JMC were combined, there was only the one event of migration accordingly. Middle age mice: The number of glomeruli with migration of tdTomato⁺PECs increased compared to young mice. There was a higher number of glomeruli with migration in the OC compared to JMC. The total increase in migration was reflected when OC and JMC were combined. The glomeruli with migration events tended to be higher in glomeruli with lower podocyte numbers. Aged mice: The number of glomeruli with migration of tdTomato⁺PECs to the glomerular tuft was the highest in aged mice compared to young and middle age mice. The incidence of migration predominantly increased in JMC versus OC, and the total increase in migration was reflected when OC and JMC were combined. Again, glomeruli with migration events tended to be higher in glomeruli with lower podocyte numbers. (B) Graphs showing the differentiation of tdTomato⁺PECs (yellow cells, y axis) plotted against the number of podocytes per glomerulus (p57⁺ cells, x-axis) in young, middle age and aged mice in the OC, JMC and both compartments combined (OC and JMC). Young mice: There was no differentiation of tdTomato⁺PECs (tdTomato⁺EGFP⁺) observed in the OC, and only one event of differentiation in one glomerulus in JMC glomeruli. When OC and JMC were combined, there was only the one event of differentiation accordingly. Middle age mice: The number of glomeruli with differentiation of tdTomato⁺PECs (tdTomato⁺EGFP⁺) increased compared to young mice. There were slightly more glomeruli with differentiation in the OC compared to JMC. The total increase in differentiation was relatively low and was reflected when OC and JMC were combined. The glomeruli with differentiation events tended to be higher in glomeruli with lower podocyte numbers. Aged mice: The number of glomeruli with differentiation of tdTomato⁺PECs (tdTomato⁺EGFP⁺) was the highest in aged mice compared to young and middle age mice. The incidence of differentiation increased in both OC and JMC glomeruli, and the total increase was reflected when OC and JMC were combined. Again, glomeruli with differentiation events tended to be higher in glomeruli with lower podocyte numbers.