Fluorescence micrograph of a section through a whole mouse kidney. The central region of the kidney (medulla; green) is surrounded by the cortex. Cell nuclei (blue), cell membranes (green) and actin fibres (red) are visible. The cell nucleus houses DNA packaged into chromosomes and its function is to maintain the integrity of this genetic material and to control other functions carried out by the cell. All cells have an outer membrane (plasma membrane) that protects the contents of the cell and regulates what goes in and out. Actin filaments form part of the cell cytoskeleton which is involved in maintaining cell shape, generating locomotion, and transporting organelles around the cell. Kidneys are vital organs which filter the blood and make urine. Image was taken with a slide scanner, which takes 200+ images at high magnification and then stitches them together to form a single image as seen here. Horizontal width of image is 1.1 cm.
