AhR localized predominantly to podocyte nuclei in mouse kidneys.

<p>Immunostaining of renal cortices from normal C57BL/6 mice for AhR (green) and normal rabbit IgG control (<b>a</b>). The arrows indicate glomeruli containing AhR-positive cells. In the renal cortex, AhR-positive cells were restricted to the glomeruli, and no positive reaction was observed in normal rabbit IgG controls. Immunostaining for WT1 (green), AhR (red), and a merged image with Hoechst nuclear stain (blue); some nuclei are yellow, suggesting that podocyte nuclei contain AhR (<b>b</b>). Immunostaining for synaptopodin (green), AhR (red), and a merged image with Hoechst nuclear stain (blue) (<b>c</b>). Nuclei expressing AhR and surrounded by synaptopodin-positive cytoplasm, confirming podocyte localization. Bars = 40 µm. The induction of <i>Cyp1a1</i> mRNA in the kidneys and glomeruli of C57BL/6 mice exposed to vehicle or indoxyl sulfate (800 mg/kg, i.p. given as a single dose). The time course of <i>Cyp1a1</i> mRNA expression in the kidneys at the time points shown following the final dose as assessed by performing real-time PCR (<b>d</b>). <i>Cyp1a1</i> mRNA expression in the kidneys and isolated glomeruli at 2 h after dose (<b>e</b>). n≥3, mean ± S.D. * denotes significant differences between the vehicle and indoxyl sulfate groups (<i>P</i><0.05).