Morphological studies of glomeruli in obstructive kidneys by confocal laser scanning microscopy and quick-freezing...

Morphological changes of glomeruli in obstructive kidneys were studied by using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and quick-freezing and deep-etching (QF-DE) method. Twenty-one rabbits were divided into three groups, consisting of control, 6-hr bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO) and 24-hr BUO. In the experimental groups, the attenuation of cell bodies, the lengthening and stretching of major processes, the cystic formation in the cytoplasm and the fusion of foot processes were observed on conventional ultrathin sections. These changes in the 24-hr BUO group were more clearly observed than those in the 6-hr BUO group. By the CLSM, cell bodies and foot processes of podocytes in the experimental groups were more intensely immunostained with anti-alpha-tubulin antibody and phalloidin-FITC. By the QF-DE method, cytoskeletons in the podocyte cell bodies and major processes were composed of numerous intermediate filaments, but distinct changes of actin filaments and microtubules were not observed in the control and experimental groups. Considering the physiological changes in BUO, the mechanical stress appeared to be brought about by hemodynamic factors rather than the change of intratubular pressure, resembling the morphological changes in experimental animals with hyperfiltration and the homeostatic adaptation of podocytes under the BUO condition.