Representative confocal images of dual labeling for MMP-9 and podocyte marker protein in the glomeruli of Zucker rats.

<p>Normal glomerulus presents nephrin (A-normal: green) and podocalyxin (B-normal: red) positive staining covering the entire capillary tuft. In the glomeruli of diabetic kidneys, neither nephrin (A-diabetic) nor podocalyxin (B-diabetic) was expressed in sclerotic lesions, where was often populated by MMP-9 positive cells. The podocyte markers, nephrin and podocalyxin, are preserved along the remaining intact portion of the glomerular tuft (white arrows). Dual labeling for nephrin and WT-1 shows that WT-1 positive cells are within nephrin-positive area in the glomerular tuft (A). A significant decrease in the number of WT-1 positive cells was observed in the diabetic glomeruli (A-Diabetic).