Ultrastructural study of human macrophages from peritoneal dialysate

Peritoneal macrophages obtained from 30 patients with end-stage kidney treated by intermittent peritoneal dialysis and from 30 subjects with normal renal function (relative control) were investigated by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two populations of peritoneal macrophages were distinguished in both dialysed and control patients. In the former group, the main population consisted of macrophages similar to monocytes from peripheral blood, while the majority of macrophages in control patients showed larger size, more prominent vacuolization of the cytoplasm and stronger spreading on glass surface.