The anionic sites at luminal surface of peritubular capillaries in rats

Anionic sites have been demonstrated in the basement membranes of peritubular capillaries. The anionic barrier function of peritubular capillary wall has been ascribed to these sites. Fenestrated capillaries in other organs have anionic sites in the endothelial cell glycocalyx and at the luminal surface of the fenestral diaphragms. The purpose of this study was to map anionic sites at the luminal surface of peritubular capillaries and to assess whether a concentration gradient for albumin exists across the endothelium. Partial chemical characterization of these anionic sites was done by in vivo enzymatic degradation. The difference in distribution of albumin following enzyme digestion was also studied. The binding of cationized ferritin to the luminal surface indicated that the rat peritubular capillaries have anionic sites along the entire luminal surface of the endothelial cell, including the fenestral diaphragms. Partial biochemical characterization of these sites shows that the sites in the glycocalyx are mainly from neuraminic acid, while the fenestral diaphragms have mainly heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Intravascular albumin extended to the endothelial luminal plasmalemma and to the luminal surface of fenestral diaphragms. Digestion with heparitinase was associated with the leakage of albumin outside the capillary wall. These findings suggest that the anionic surface of fenestrae constitutes a charge barrier of the peritubular capillaries.