Precise quantitation of glomerular basement membrane morphology

Quantitative microscopical methods for studying the glomerular capillary basement membrane are described, mainly in terms of precision and overall experimental efficiency. The methods provide absolute data for basement membrane thickness, total surface and total volume, and for glomerular capillary dimensions, namely total length, total surface and average diameter, as well as for mesangial cell and matrix volumes. The impact of these methods on current research in glomerular structure and pathology is illustrated by results from a number of recent studies of human and experimental diabetes.