Shape of cells and extracellular channels in rabbit cortical collecting ducts

Superficial cortical collecting ducts of rabbits were examined by scanning electron microscopy and by computer-assisted morphometric analysis of transmission electron micrographs. The epithelium contains two cell types, principal and intercalated, which have similar surface concentrations for apical and basal cell membranes and which can be modeled as simple cuboidal cells. The epithelium also contains two distinct and markedly different systems of extracellular channels. One system, the lateral intercellular channels, is comparable to the spaces between simple cuboidal cells but is modified by laterally projecting microvilli and ridges that produce a 1.8-fold magnification of the lateral cell surfaces. Those surfaces are nearly identical in the two cell types and constitute 38% of all cell membranes facing extracellular channels. The other channel system, the basal infolded channels, is well developed only in the basal 40% of principal cells and constitutes 62% of all channel-associated membrane. Its unique feature is an exponential increase in surface area, which is reminiscent of all channel-associated membranes in proximal nephron segments and which can be modeled as the interdigitation of cellular leaflets entirely within the boundaries of single cells.