Translational blocking of podocalyxin caused hypoplasia of the podocyte foot processes. (A1–2) 3-dpf uninjected control embryos. The pronephric glomerulus contains several glomerular capillaries (pink) together with mesangium (brown). Bowman′s capsule (podocytes and parietal epithelial cells) including urinary space is shown in green (A1). Podocytes form interdigitating fine foot processes with slit diaphragm, which exhibited a “beads-on-a-string” appearance. The cell body of podocyte is not in direct contact with the GBM to form a subpodocyte space under the cell body (A2). (B1–4) 3-dpf podxlATGMO morphants. Glomerular capillaries vary in diameter, and poorly developed mesangium is found within the glomerulus (B1). Unlike in the control larvae, podocyte cell bodies directly adhere to the GBM (B2) and irregularshaped processes covering the GBM (B3) are frequently found in the morphants, although regular foot processes are also formed in some regions (B4). Duplication of the GBM and the interposition of mesangial cell processes between the duplicated GBM are found in some regions (arrowheads in B3). (C) The ratio of the three structures covering the GBM. Cap, glomerular capillary lumen; N, notochord; P, podocyte cell body. Bar scales, 5 μm in A1, B1; 2 μm in B2, 500 nm in A2, B3, B4.
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