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Renal basement membranes by ultrahigh resolution scanning electron microscopy
K Hironaka1, H Makino, Y Yamasaki
1Third Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
Kidney International
|February 1, 1993
Summary
Ultrahigh resolution scanning electron microscopy revealed that rat kidney basement membranes possess a basic polygonal meshwork structure. Differences in pore size and strand width suggest distinct functional properties for each membrane type.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cell Biology
- Microscopy
Background:
- Basement membranes (BMs) are crucial extracellular matrix structures in the kidney.
- Their three-dimensional ultrastructure and heterogeneity remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the three-dimensional ultrastructure of different rat kidney basement membranes using ultrahigh resolution scanning electron microscopy (HSEM).
- To elucidate the basic structural organization and identify potential structural correlates of functional differences among kidney BMs.
Main Methods:
- Rat renal cortical tissues underwent sequential-detergent treatment to remove cellular components, yielding acellular basement membranes.
- Tannin-osmium conductive staining was applied prior to HSEM imaging with 0.5 nm resolving power.
Main Results:
- Four types of acellular kidney BMs were visualized: glomerular (GBM), tubular (TBM), Bowman's capsule (BCBM), and peritubular capillary (PTCBM).
- All BMs exhibited polygonal meshwork structures composed of 6-7 nm wide strands with variable pore sizes.
- Heterogeneity within the GBM was confirmed, and pore sizes varied significantly between BM types.
Conclusions:
- A polygonal meshwork structure likely represents the fundamental architecture of kidney basement membranes.
- Observed architectural dissimilarities correlate with known functional differences and heterogeneous component distribution in kidney BMs.