Actin Depolymerizing Factors Cofilin1 and Destrin Are Required for Ureteric Bud Branching Morphogenesis
Figure 1
Kidney defects in Dstn−/− and Cfl1+/−;Dstn−/− mutant animals.
Whole mount image (A) and histological section (B) of control kidneys. (C) Double ureter (asterisks) and duplex kidney formation in a Dstn−/− embryo. Arrow points to the cleft between the two lobes of the duplex kidney, and asterisks mark the two ureters. (D) Histology of Cfl1+/−;Dstn−/− kidney reveals irregular surface of the renal cortex. Arrows point to constriction sites, arrowhead to a dilated collecting duct. (E) and (F), Three-dimensional reconstruction from confocal optical sections of control kidney (Hoxb7/myrVenus;Cfl1+/−) (E), showing smooth surface and kidney shape, and Hoxb7/myrVenus;Cfl1+/−;Dstn−/− kidney (F), showing an irregular surface and abnormal cleft (arrow). (G) and (H), reduced kidney size in Cfl1+/−;Dstn−/− (H) compared to Dstn+/− control (G). The dotted curves indicate the outlines of the two control kidneys. All kidneys are at E16.5, except C which is E17.5.