Renal enzymatic activity of ACE, ACE2 and the ACE/ACE2 ratio.

<p>(A) ACE enzymatic activity. (B) ACE2 enzymatic activity. (C) ACE/ACE2 ratio. Data are means ± SEM. NS: normal salt diet. LS: low salt diet. HS: high salt diet. *P<0.05 vs. NS; + P < 0.05 vs. HS. (NS n = 12, LS n = 10, HS n = 9).</p

Histological analysis.

<p>(A) Photomicrographs of kidney sections stained with Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) to determine glomerulosclerosis score (percentage of the PAS-positive in glomerular tuft area) and morphometric changes in the groups. (B) Photomicrographs of kidney sections stained with Picrosirius Red to determine interstitial collagen deposition. Data are represented as mean ± SEM. NS: normal salt diet. LS: low salt diet. HS: high salt diet. Scale bar: 20 μm.</p

Analysis of megalin and cubilin renal protein expression.

<p>(A) Megalin. (B) Cubilin. Data are means ± SEM. (NS) normal salt diet. LS: low salt diet. HS: high salt diet. *P<0.05 vs. NS; + P < 0.05 vs. HS. (n = 6 / group).</p

Parameters of renal function.

<p>Values are represented as the mean± SEM. NS: normal salt diet. LS: low salt diet. HS: high salt diet. GFR: glomerular filtration rate</p><p>*P<0.05 vs. NS</p><p>+ P < 0.05 vs. HS</p><p># P < 0.05 vs LS.</p><p>Parameters of renal function.</p

Analysis of nephrin and podocin renal protein expression.

<p>(A) Nephrin. (B) Podocin. Data are means ± SEM. NS: normal salt diet. LS: low salt diet. HS: high salt diet. *P<0.05 vs. NS; # P < 0.05 vs LS. (N = 6 / group).</p

Evaluation of the urinary protein loss.

<p>24-h urine samples from SHRs were subjected to 12% SDS-PAGE and silver stained. NS: normal salt diet. LS: low salt diet. HS: high salt diet.</p

Glomeruli ultrastructural examination.

<p>Transmission electron microscopy images show the ultrastructural pedicels (fp) and slit diaphragms (SD, arrows) from the podocytes. Images A and B show the normal podocyte structure from Normal and Low salt group respectively, with SD integrity. Image C shows that the high salt group has lost the morphological integrity of its podocyte processes (fusion/effacement*) along with the slit diaphragms (black arrow head). BM, basement membrane; EC, endothelial cell.</p

Analysis of ACE, ACE2 expression and ACE/ACE2 protein ratio.

<p>(A) ACE kidney expression. (B) ACE2 kidney expression. C: ACE/ACE2 protein ratio. Data are means ± SEM. NS: normal salt diet. LS: low salt diet. HS: high salt diet. *P<0.05 vs. NS; + P < 0.05 vs. HS; # P < 0.05 vs LS.</p

Morphologic characteristics of the kidneys.

<p>Values are mean ± SEM. SBP: systolic blood pressure. NS: normal salt diet. LS: low salt diet. HS: high salt diet. SBP at weaning: subsample of 8 rats.</p><p>* P<0.05 vs. NS</p><p>+ P < 0.05 vs. HS</p><p># P < 0.05 vs LS.</p><p>(n = 6 / group for histological parameters).</p><p>Morphologic characteristics of the kidneys.</p

Analysis of the renal function in SHR.

<p>(A, B) proteinuria and urine protein/creatinine ratio. (C, D) Albuminuria and albumin/creatinine ratio. The analyses were performed with 24-h urine samples. Data are means ± SEM. NS: normal salt diet. LS: low salt diet. HS: high salt diet. *P<0.05 vs. NS; # P < 0.05 vs LS. (NS n = 10, LS n = 14, HS n = 11).</p