The evaluation of renal functions following the islet transplantation.

<p>The histology of renal tissues from sham (A), scaffold (B), islet (C) and islet/scaffold (D) groups. (E) Glomerular area (n≥25). (F) Kidney weight (n = 5). The histology showed significant edema in the kidney cortex in mice from the sham and scaffold groups, which resulted in an increase of glomerular area and overall kidney weight. On the contrary, transplanted islets in mice from the islet and islet/scaffold groups largely prevented the edema. The glomerular area in mice from the islet/scaffold group was smaller than those from the islet group, suggesting that the increased functional output of islets delivered by the scaffold better protected renal tissues. The significant glomerular enlargement in mice from the sham and scaffold groups could be attributed to compensate compromised renal functions, which is typically observed in diabetic patients. A star indicates a statistical difference between groups connected by a hanging bar.