An ultrastructural study on the effects of warm ischaemia on the inosine-protected kidney

Unperfused, saline-perfused and inosine-perfused rat kidneys were subjected to various times of warm ischaemia with and without resumption of blood flow. Tissues were examined with a transmission electron microscope. Inosine has a protective effect on the epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubules, where microvilli are less damaged by ischaemia than those of the proximal convoluted tubular cells of the control animals. Three is also a much higher ratio of autophagic vacuoles to lysosomes present in cells of inosine-treated kidneys, reflecting their ability to sequester and digest organelles damaged during ischaemia and thus protect themselves from degradation products. A major effect of inosine seems to be the preservation of the organelles and rush border of the cells of the proximal tubule during warm ischaemia.