Microscopy as a tool for renal research

Microscopy has always played an important role in renal research as a tool to visualize events occurring at the surface of the kidney and as a method to investigate intracellular ion activity and membrane transport. Thanks to the recent advances in fluorochromes as ionic detector agents and as a means to label antibodies, microscopy will maintain its role at the forefront of renal research in the future. This article presents an overview of fluorescence microscopy and then focuses on some of the present applications of microscopy to exam renal epithelial tissues. Other areas covered are the pros and cons of various techniques and their applications to renal research.