Complexity reduction of chromatin architecture in macula densa cells during mouse postnatal development

An observation study in mice suggesting that the chromatin of macula densa cells undergoes loss of structural complexity that is most pronounced immediately after birth and remains during the first month of postnatal life. The findings add to the knowledge about the changes that take place in the kidney during postnatal development function and tissue structural organization, which are linked to changes in physiological function. Aim To determine whether complexity of chromatin structure in kidney macula densa cells (MDC) decreases during postnatal development in mice. Methods The levels of chromatin structural complexity were measured by determining fractal dimension of MDC nuclei. Kidney tissue was obtained from the total of 32 male Swiss albino mice divided into four age groups (n = 8): newborn (0 days), 10 days old, 20 days old and 30 days old. For a total of 640 MDC chromatin structures, fractal dimension, lacunarity, as well as parameters of Grey level co‐occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture were determined. Results Chromatin fractal dimension in animals aged 10 days, 20 days and 30 days was significantly lower (P