Evaluation of <i>Nr3c2</i> excision in endothelial mineralocorticoid receptor knockout mice (EC-MR KO) and in littermate controls (WT).

<p>Expression of mRNA of <i>Nr3c2</i> from isolated aortic endothelial cells in EC-MR KO and WT mice (n = 6 per group). (B) Expression of mRNA from the abdominal aorta, mesenteric artery and renal artery. Amplification of mRNA transcribed from the <i>Nr3c2</i> gene using a primer set spanning exons 2–4 would yield only one fragment of 253 bp in mice carrying the floxed <i>Nr3c2</i> alleles, whereas mice expressing both the floxed <i>Nr3c2</i> gene as well as the Cre recombinase driven by <i>Tie2</i> promoter would yield another fragment of 113 bp. (C-E) Immunohistochemical analysis of kidney from intercrosses of mice expressing Tie2-Cre and the LacZ/eGFP reporter gene (<i>Z/EG</i>). eGFP expression is detected in cells positive for Cre recombinase. (C) Cre-dependent excision allowing eGFP expression can be detected in arterioles within kidney (denoted A). (D) eGFP positive cells were also present in the renal microvasculature, in the vasa recta bundels in the outer medulla (indicated by arrows) and (E) afferent arterioles (AA) located adjacent to the macula densa (MD), in glomerular (G) endothelial cells lining the capillary loops as well as the peritubular capillaries (indicated by arrows).