Real-time histological imaging of kidneys stained with food dyes using multiphoton microscopy.

We have developed a real-time imaging technique for diagnosis of kidney diseases which is composed of two steps, staining renal cells safely with food dyes and optical sectioning of living renal tissue to obtain histological images by multiphoton microscopy (MPM). Here, we demonstrated that the MPM imaging with food dyes, including erythrosine and indigo carmine, could be used as fluorescent agents to visualize renal functions and structures such as glomerular bloodstreams, glomerular filtration, and morphology of glomeruli and renal tubules. We also showed that the kidneys of IgA nephropathy model-mice stained with the food dyes presented histopathological characteristics different from those observed in normal kidneys.

Triple N-glycosylation in the long S5-P loop regulates the activation and trafficking of the Kv12.2 potassium channel.

Mammalian voltage-dependent potassium (Kv) channels regulate the excitability of nerve and muscle cells. Kv12.2 features the longest S5-P loop among all known mammalian Kv channels with the most N-linked glycosylation sites (three sites).