Figure 5

Mutant bone marrow-derived cells in the recipient kidney do not express the proximal tubule epithelial marker LTA. (A-F) FISH, confocal microscopy and three dimensional modeling was used determine the nature of Y chromosome staining (green) relative to the proximal tubule marker LTA (red) and DAPI stained nuclei (blue). Panels on the left (A, C and E) are confocal images with XZ and YZ planes shown as side panels. The corresponding panels on the right (B, D and F) are 3D reconstructions of these confocal images. (A and B) A cross-section of a tubule in a control male kidney showing dispersed Y chromosome signals in cells with typical epithelial morphology and LTA staining (arrows). (C -F) Y chromosome positive mutant cells in wild type female recipient kidney. (C and D) An example of a Y chromosome-positive cell (arrows) within the bounds of the proximal tubule that is not the same size or morphology as surrounding host tubular epithelial cells and contains a more compact Y chromosome signal. (E and F) A cell with a compact Y chromosome signal closely bordering the proximal tubule, but failing to express LTA. C and D are 4 wks after IR and E and F are 2 weeks after IR. Scale bars = 10 microns.