[Intermediate filament proteins nestin and vimentin in the rat kidney cells]

The data on the presence of the kidney cells can contain neuroglial markers (nestin, vimentin, glial fibrillar acidic protein--GFAP) appeared unexpected and require a detailed investigation. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to demonstrate the structures containing these proteins in the rat kidney by means of immunocytochemistry. Immunocytochemical staining was performed using the antimouse monoclonal and antirabbit polyclonal antibodies. It was demonstrated that the renal corpuscle contained both nestin- and vimentin-immunopositive cells (podocytes). Vimentin was also detected in the cells of parietal epithelium of the glomerular capsule, single cells of proximal and distal tubular epithelium, medullar tubular structures, and in the stromal cells. No GFAP-positive cells were detected in the kidney. Thus, the combination of nestin and vimentin was found to be typical for adult rat kidney podocytes. This suggests probable similarity of cytophysiological properties of podocytes and activated CNS astrocytes.