Recombinant Erythropoietin Provides Protection against Renal Fibrosis in Adenine-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease

Figure 1

rEPO reduces inflammatory infiltrate and tubular atrophy in Ad-CKD rats. Micrographs of kidney sections. (a, b) Microphotographs stained with hematoxylin-eosin observed under a light microscope (H&E, 20x and 40x). (b) Control group (CTL), no histological changes were observed; adenine-fed rats (Ad-CKD) showed remarkable histological changes characterized by increased inflammatory infiltrate (purple dots), interstitial expansion, tubular dilatation, and atrophy as well characteristic tubular casts (black arrows). (c) AQP1/DAPI immunostain. The Ad-CKD group exhibited less AQP1 expression (tubular atrophy), whereas rEPO treatment maintains the expression of AQP1 (3 cortical fields per animal were analyzed) (40x). Red blood cells. Scale bar is 20 μm.