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Structural Plasticity of Aged Podocytes Revealed by Volume Electron Microscopy
Takashi Amari1, Takayuki Miyaki1, Mami Kishi1
1Department of Anatomy and Life Structure, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN
|January 21, 2026
Summary
Aging significantly alters kidney podocytes, causing structural changes like hypertrophy and foot process irregularity. Despite these changes, podocytes show remarkable plasticity, adapting to maintain glomerular function in aged rats.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cell Biology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Podocytes are crucial for kidney filtration.
- Understanding age-related changes in podocytes is vital for kidney health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the three-dimensional ultrastructural changes in rat podocytes during aging.
- To analyze the adaptive mechanisms of podocytes in aged kidneys.
Main Methods:
- Volume electron microscopy was employed.
- Analysis was performed on podocytes from young adult (1.5-month-old), adult (6-month-old), and aged (24-month-old) male Wistar rats.
Main Results:
- Aged podocytes exhibited eight structural alterations, including hypertrophy, foot process irregularity, and fragmentation.
- Hypertrophy led to a significant increase in podocyte volume and surface area.
- Aged podocytes demonstrated adaptive responses like autocellular interdigitation and exocytosis of cellular contents.
Conclusions:
- Podocytes display remarkable plasticity during the aging process.
- These adaptations may help maintain glomerular structure and function in aged kidneys.
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