Fig. 1

Renal function of wild-type and mdx mice. a Expressions of dystrophin, utrophin, and dystrophin-related proteins in kidney of wild-type and mdx mice. b Western-blot analyses of utrophin and β-dystroglycan. The graph shows quantification of utrophin and β-dystroglycan levels normalized to GAPDH (n = 4, each group). c Expression of klotho, NaPi 2a, and NaPi 2c in the kidney. d Detection of cystatin C in serum of wild-type and mdx mice at age 3, 6, 9, 12, and 30 weeks by ELISA (n = 3-5, each group). Cystatin C levels were significantly increased in mdx mice at 12 and 30 weeks of age. Values of cystatin C are log transformed before analyzed for their skewed distributions; however, the graph and difference are shown in ng/ml. e Measurements of renal function using dynamic CT scanning. Renal excretion rate of an angiographic agent was determined by dynamic CT scanning using a micro CT scanner. The results of wild-type mice are plotted in gray, and those of mdx mice are plotted in black (n = 4, each group). Renal excretion was delayed in most of mdx mice (three in four mice) after 700 s from a trial started. ***P < 0.001