Podocytes of rat kidneys with nephrotoxic serum nephritis. A combined transmission and scanning electron microscopic...

Rats with a nephrotoxic serum nephritis reveal changes of proteinuria and content of serum proteins as well as serum cholesterol in the direction of a nephrotic syndrome as is seen after Daunomycin. Nevertheless, the morphological findings with TEM and especially with SEM are quite different. A striking feature of the nephritis is the rather good preservation of cell processes through all the time of experiment in spite of the elevated proteinuria. Moreover, podocytes with furrowed or ribbed surfaces originate and are most numerous when the signs of inflammation are most pronounced. These furrowed podocytes are interpreted as representing a special reactive, perhaps mobilized form. With SEM it is evident that the glomeruli are altered focally and segmentally in the nephrotoxic serum nephritis.