Fig. 9
Renal ultrastructure changes in mice. The renal glomerulus ultrastructural changes were observed in kidneys of mice by transmission electron microscope analysis (a–g ×4200 magnification; h–k ×7400 magnification). Compared with the ApoEKO mice, renal ultrastructure injury was aggravated in the ApoE/ACE2 DKO mice or the Ang II-infused ApoEKO mice. These ultrastructure changes were characterized with renal mesangial cell necrosis (green star), the immune-complex (IC) formation, podocyte depletion from the glomerular wall linked with the foot process effacement (red arrow) and the thickening and stiffening glomerular capillary basement membrane (red triangle). WTC wild-type control, ApoE apolipoprotein E, ACE2 angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, KO knockout, DKO double knockout, rhACE2 human recombinant ACE2, Ang II angiotensin II, IC immune-complex.