Lectin-binding sites and silver affinity of the macula densa basement membranes in the rabbit kidney

Fluorochrome-labelled lectins and the Jones method of silver impregnation preceded by different oxidation and enzymatic digestion procedures were used to study the patterns of glycosylation and silver affinity of the macula densa (MD) and thick ascending limb (TAL) basement membranes of the rabbit kidney. The goal of this study was to analyse the morphological basis of MD basement membrane permeability and its possible role in modulation of the signal involved in tubuloglomerular feedback control of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. The lectin-binding pattern and silver affinity of basement membrane differed clearly from those of the TAL basement membrane. The former had greater WGA and Con A affinity than the latter. Furthermore, the MD basement membrane lost argyrophilia in permanganate oxidized sections whereas that of the TAL did not. The cell coat of MD cells differed from that of the TAL cells in that it had N-acetyl neuraminic acid and Con A binding sites. Our results suggest that the MD basement membrane has a distinctive macromolecular composition which may be related to its permeability to high molecular weight molecules.