scholarly journals GLOMERULAR PERMEABILITY

1961 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilyn G. Farquhar ◽  
Steven L. Wissig ◽  
George E. Palade
Keyword(s):  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Kidney Tissue ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Capillary Wall ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Glomerular Permeability ◽  
Glomerular Capillary Wall ◽  
Glomerular Capillary ◽  
Filtration Barrier ◽  
Visceral Epithelium

Ferritin was used as a tracer to investigate pathways and mechanisms for transfer across the various layers of the glomerular capillary wall. Kidney tissue, fixed at intervals of 2 minutes to 2 hours following an intravenous injection of ferritin, was examined by electron microscopy. The observations confirmed the existence of three distinct and successive layers in the glomerular capillary wall (the endothelium, the basement membrane, and the visceral epithelium). In addition, they demonstrated a number of new structural features: namely (a) discrete fibrils in the subendothelial spaces; (b) a characteristic, highly elaborate, cytoplasmic organization in the visceral epithelium; and (c) special structures resembling "desmosomes" in the slits between foot processes. In animals sacrificed at short time intervals (2 to 15 minutes) following ferritin administration, ferritin molecules were found at high concentration in the lumen and endothelial fenestrae, at low concentration in the basement membrane, and in very small numbers within the epithelium. Later (1 to 2 hours), the tracer particles were still present in the lumen and within endothelial fenestrae, and, in addition, had accumulated on the luminal side of the basement membrane, especially in the axial regions of the vessels. Larger numbers of ferritin molecules were also found in the epithelium—in invaginations of the cell membrane at the base of the foot processes, and in various membrane-limited bodies (vesicles, multivesicular bodies, vacuoles, and dense bodies) present within the cytoplasm. These observations suggest that the endothelial fenestrae are patent and that the basement membrane is the main filtration barrier. Since the basement membrane has no demonstrable pores, it is probably not a simple sieve but presumably is a gel-like structure with two fine fibrillar components embedded in an amorphous matrix. Both the epithelium and endothelium may be concerned with building and maintaining this structure. Finally, the intracellular accumulation of particles in the epithelium suggests that the latter acts as a monitor that recovers, at least in part, the small amounts of protein which normally leak through the filter.

scholarly journals GLOMERULAR PERMEABILITY

1961 ◽  
Vol 114 (5) ◽  
pp. 699-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilyn G. Farquhar ◽  
George E. Palade
Keyword(s):  
Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Kidney Tissue ◽  
Normal Animal ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Glomerular Permeability ◽  
Cytoplasmic Matrix ◽  
Filtration Barrier ◽  
Dense Bodies ◽  
Cytoplasmic Vesicles

Ferritin was used as a tracer to investigate glomerular permeability in the nephrotic rat. The results were compared with those previously obtained in normal animals. A nephrotic syndrome was induced by 9 daily injections of the aminonucleoside of puromycin. Ferritin was administered intravenously on the 10th day, and kidney tissue was fixed at intervals of 5 minutes to 44 hours after injection of the tracer and examined by electron microscopy. The observations confirmed that at this stage of the experimental nephrotic syndrome the changes affect predominantly the visceral epithelium (loss of foot processes, reduction and modification of urinary slits, and intracellular accumulation of vacuoles and protein absorption droplets). Less extensive changes were found in other layers (reduction of endothelial fenestrae, an increase in the population of "deep" cells, and a thinning and "loosening" of the basement membrane.) At short intervals (5 to 15 minutes) after ferritin administration, the tracer was found at high concentration in the lumen and endothelial fenestrae, and at decreasing concentrations embedded throughout the basement membrane and incorporated into the epithelium (within cytoplasmic vesicles and within invaginations of the plasmalemma facing the basement membrane). After longer intervals (1 to 3 hours) the distribution of the tracer within the capillary wall was similar except that its concentration in the epithelium was higher, and, in addition to plasma membrane invaginations and small vesicles, ferritin also marked larger vacuoles, dense bodies, and intermediate forms. Large accumulations of tracer typically occurred in the spongy areas of the basement membrane, especially in the axial regions. Ferritin also appeared in the endothelium within membrane-limited vacuoles and dense bodies, particularly in the deep cells. After 6 to 44 hours the tracer still occurred in the lumen and throughout the basement membrane. The ferritin deposits in the spongy areas as well as the ferritin-containing vacuoles of the deep endothelium were larger and more numerous. In the epithelium ferritin was found not only within various membrane-limited bodies, but also "free" within the cytoplasmic matrix. These observations indicate that in the nephrotic glomerulus, as in the normal, the basement membrane functions as the main filtration barrier; however, in nephrosis, the basement membrane is defective and allows leakage of increased quantitites of ferritin and presumably plasma proteins. The basement membrane defect appears to be fine and widespread, occurring at or near the molecular level of organization of the filter. The accumulation of unfiltered ferritin in axial regions together with the demonstration of its subsequent phagocytosis by the "deep" endothelial cells suggest that the latter may function in the removal of filtration residues. Finally, the findings indicate that in the nephrotic, as in the normal animal, the epithelium acts as a monitor that recovers, at least in part, the protein which leaks through the filter, and that in nephrosis, the recovering activities of the epithelium are greatly enhanced because of the increased permeability of the basement membrane.

Structure and development of the glomerular capillary wall and basement membrane

1987 ◽  
Vol 253 (5) ◽  
pp. F783-F794 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Abrahamson
Keyword(s):  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Mesenchymal Cells ◽  
Capillary Wall ◽  
Collagen Type Iv ◽  
Glomerular Capillary Wall ◽  
Glomerular Capillary ◽  
Filtration Barrier

The renal glomerular epithelium, Bowman's capsule, and tubule originate from a condensate of mesenchymal cells induced to undergo epithelial differentiation by a branch of the uretic bud. These nephrogenic cells aggregate and begin synthesizing the basement membrane molecules collagen type IV, heparan sulfate proteoglycans, and laminin as shown by immunofluorescence microscopy. Soon, the primitive nephron is invaginated by mesenchymal cells that establish the glomerular endothelium. Electron microscopy, metabolic labeling, and immunocytochemical techniques show that the endothelium and epithelium of early stage glomeruli each synthesize a basement membrane that appears to fuse, giving rise to the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). As development progresses, however, bulk GBM biosynthesis by the endothelium greatly diminishes or ceases. In contrast, GBM assembly by the epithelial podocytes continues and segments of new GBM appear beneath developing foot processes. In vivo labeling experiments with anti-laminin antibodies have shown that this new GBM derived from podocytes is subsequently spliced into existing GBM as capillary loop diameters expand. Molecular mechanisms for basement membrane fusion or splicing are not presently known but may involve partial enzymatic digestion and specific binding interactions among GBM components. The developing glomerular capillary wall, which filters plasma from very early stages, becomes decreasingly permeable to perfused macromolecules such as ferritin or immunoglobulin as the glomerulus matures. Evidence from immunolabeling studies showing that some monoclonal IgGs bind to the GBM only at specific developmental stages also indicates that temporal biochemical changes take place during GBM assembly. Such changes could include molecular rearrangement during basement membrane fusion and splicing and/or enzymatic and compositional modifications during maturation of the filtration barrier.

Alterations in glomerular permeability in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

1996 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
RB Boyd ◽  
VW Thompson ◽  
J Atkin
Keyword(s):  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Glomerular Basement Membrane ◽  
Diabetic Rats ◽  
Capillary Wall ◽  
Diabetic Rat ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Glomerular Permeability ◽  
Glomerular Capillary Wall ◽  
Capillary Lumen ◽  
Glomerular Capillary

The alteration in glomerular basement membrane permeability associated with microangiopathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was studied by determining the movement across the glomerular basement membrane of anionic ferritin probes injected into rats at different points in the development of the disease. Visualization of the concentration gradient of anionic ferritin and changes in ultrastructure was accomplished by electron microscopic examination of renal tissue prepared from both control and diabetic rats. In all control rats, the anionic ferritin did not leave the glomerular capillary lumen, nor were there any changes in the normal morphology of the glomerular capillary wall. In the diabetic animals, the concentration of anionic ferritin shifted from the capillary lumen in the abluminal direction. Distinct morphologic changes, such as widening of endothelial intercellular junctions, focal detachment of podocyte foot processes, and extensive thickening of the glomerular basement membrane, were noted in the diabetic rat, and these changes appear to correlate with the observed increase in permselectivity of anionic ferritin across the glomerular capillary wall.

scholarly journals Reduction in Glomerular Heparan Sulfate Correlates with Complement Deposition and Albuminuria in Active Heymann Nephritis

1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1689-1699 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. ILSE RAATS ◽  
MARIKEN E. LUCA ◽  
MARINKA A. H. BAKKER ◽  
ANNEMIEKE VAN DER WAL ◽  
PETER HEERINGA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Heparan Sulfate ◽  
Glomerular Basement Membrane ◽  
Core Protein ◽  
Control Level ◽  
Staining Intensity ◽  
Capillary Wall ◽  
Glomerular Capillary Wall ◽  
Glomerular Capillary ◽  
Heymann Nephritis

Abstract. In a time-study of active Heymann nephritis, the expression of agrin, the main heparan sulfate proteoglycan in the glomerular basement membrane, was analyzed in relation to deposition of IgG and complement in the glomerular capillary wall and the development of albuminuria. Binding of IgG autoantibodies to the glomerular capillary wall could be detected from 2 wk onward, followed by activation of complement after 6 wk. Progressive albuminuria developed from 6 wk onward to a level of 274 ± 68 mg/18 h at week 12. The staining intensity for the agrin core protein decreased slightly, and the staining intensity for the heparan sulfate stubs that were still attached to the core protein after heparitinase digestion remained normal. From week 6 onward, however, a progressive decrease was seen in the staining of two monoclonal antibodies (mAb) directed against different epitopes on the heparan sulfate polysaccharide side chain of agrin (to 35 and 30% of the control level, respectively, at week 12, both mAb P = 0.016). Moreover, albuminuria was inversely correlated with heparan sulfate staining as revealed by these antibodies (rs = -0.82 and rs = -0.75, respectively, both mAb P < 0.0001). This decrease in heparan sulfate staining was due to a progressive reduction of glomerular heparan sulfate content to 46 and 32% of control level at week 10 and week 12 of the disease, respectively, as measured biochemically. It is speculated that the observed decrease in glomerular heparan sulfate in active Heymann nephritis is due to complement-mediated cleavage of heparan sulfate, resulting in an increased permeability of the glomerular basement membrane to macromolecules.

scholarly journals The permeability of glomerular capillaries of aminonuceoside nephrotic rats to graded dextrans.

1975 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
J P Caulfield ◽  
M G Farquhar
Keyword(s):  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Plasma Proteins ◽  
Narrow Range ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Lamina Densa ◽  
Glomerular Permeability ◽  
Sharp Drop ◽  
Protein Absorption ◽  
Filtration Barrier ◽  
Glomerular Capillaries

Graded dextrans were used as tracers to study glomerular permeability in nephrotic rats. Two narrow range fractions were used, one which was approximately the same size as albumin (62,000 mol wt) and one which was considerably larger (125,000 mol wt). Nephrosis was induced with daily injections of an aminonucleoside of puromycin, and the animals examined after 7 days, when proteinuria is minimal, or after 10 days, when proteinuria has almost reached a maximum. At both stages and with both dextran fractions the following results were obtained: (a) dextran was retained for up to 3 h (the longest interval studied) in the plasma at high concentration; (b) there was a sharp drop in the concentration of tracer between the inner, looser portions of the basement membrane (lamina rara interna) and its outer denser portions (lamina densa), (c) accumulation of dextran was seen in the mesangial areas with time; and (d) no accumulation of dextran was seen in the slits at any time. These results are the same as those reported earlier in normal animals, and they demonstrate that in nephrotics the basement membrane still behaves as the main filtration barrier retaining most of the plasma proteins. Certain differences from the findings in normals were also noted in that increased amounts of the tracer were present on the epithelial side of the basement membrane: (a) in the urinary spaces; (b) in the subepithelial portions of the basement membrane; and (c) within lysosomes (protein absorption droplets) in the epithelial cytoplasm. In addition areas of thinning of the dense portions of the basement membrane (lamina densa) were seen which were accompanied by a corresponding widening of the less dense, subendothelial and subepithelial layers (lamina rara interna and externa, respectively). The presence of increased quantities of dextran on the epithelial side of the basement membrane indicates that the filter, i.e. the basement membrane, is leaky and allows increased passage of dextrans and therefore plasma proteins.

scholarly journals Glomerular permeability in the bullfrog Rana catesbeiana.

1978 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 314-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Schaffner ◽  
R Rodewald
Keyword(s):  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Rana Catesbeiana ◽  
Variable Structure ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Slit Diaphragm ◽  
Glomerular Permeability ◽  
Filtration Barrier ◽  
Subendothelial Space ◽  
Mammalian Counterpart ◽  
Subepithelial Layer

Filtration studies suggest similar size pores in the glomerular filters of mammals and amphibians. However, the glomerular wall in the bullfrog exhibits several structural features not found in mammals. The subendothelial space of the basement membrane is often greatly enlarged and infiltrated by cellular elements. The lamina densa of the basement membrane shows extensive variation in thickness and packing of its filaments. On the other hand, the epithelial slits in the bullfrog are closed by a slit diaphragm which appears similar in size and structure to the slit diaphragm in mammals. Horse spleen ferritin, a protein with a hydrodynamic radius of 61 A, was used as an ultrastructural tracer to determine whether the highly variable structure of the basement membrane renders this layer more permeable than its mammalian counterpart. Within 10 min after intravenous injection, ferritin was found throughout the basement membrane and often in clusters within the subepithelial layer adjacent to the slit diaphragm. Virtually no ferritin was found within the urinary space, podocytes, or cells of the proximal tubule. Ferritin distribution was the same in both superficial glomeruli and more deeply lying glomeruli regardless of the method of fixation. These results indicate that in the bullfrog the slit diaphragm is a principal filtration barrier to ferritin and thus to smaller plasma proteins.

scholarly journals An In Vitro Model of the Glomerular Capillary Wall Using Electrospun Collagen Nanofibres in a Bioartificial Composite Basement Membrane

PLoS ONE ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. e20802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadie C. Slater ◽  
Vince Beachley ◽  
Thomas Hayes ◽  
Daming Zhang ◽  
Gavin I. Welsh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basement Membrane ◽  
In Vitro Model ◽  
Capillary Wall ◽  
Glomerular Capillary Wall ◽  
Glomerular Capillary ◽  
Vitro Model

scholarly journals An Investigation of the Antigenic Characteristics of the Renal Glomerulus in the Rat

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Maurice James Nicol
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Glomerular Basement Membrane ◽  
Immune Complexes ◽  
Capillary Wall ◽  
Glomerular Capillary Wall ◽  
Glomerular Capillary

<p>The finding of a granular deposition of immunoglobulin in the kidney in experimental animal models of glomerulonephritis has been been interpreted as resulting from the random deposition of immune complexes in the glomeruli. Recent data suggests that although immune complex deposition may be an important factor in some forms of glomerulonephritis, the in situ formation of immune complexes between circulating anti-kidney antibodies and fixed glomerular capillary wall antigens may also be a significant factor in the pathogenesis of some animal models of glomerulonephritis. To examine the characteristics of discontinuously represented glomerular capillary wall antigens in the rat, monoclonal antibodies were generated against a glomerular plasma membrane fraction, depleted of glomerular basement membrane, prepared from isolated Lewis rat glomeruli. A total of 17 hybridomas, generated from the fusion of splenocytes obtained from mice immunised with the glomerular membrane fraction produced monoclonal antibodies which reacted with discontinuously represented antigens in the glomerulus and renal tubules. One further hybridoma secreted a monoclonal antibody which reacted with an antigen present on glomerular and tubular nuclear membranes. No hybridomas were produced which secreted a monoclonal antibody which reacted with linearly arrayed glomerular basement membrane antigens. Two of these monoclonal antibodies, both of the IgM subclass and code-named PH7 and SC5, produced a heavy granular glomerular staining pattern when examined by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. Neither monoclonal antibody was kidney specific, with reactivity being demonstrated with a number of non-renal tissues. When administered intravenously to normal Lewis rats both SC5 and PH7 induced a mild proteinuric lesion. The proteinuria was not associated with histopathological changes at the light or electron microscope level. Immunoblotting experiments revealed that SC5 reacted predominantly with a protein band of 96 kDa present in detergent extracts of isolated glomeruli and glomerular plasma membranes. PH7 was shown to react with three low molecular weight proteins of 14, 13 and 11 kDa The findings of this study demonstrate the potential for a nephritogenic response to occur following the in situ formation of immune complexes between circulating anti-kidney antibodies and discontinuously arrayed non-glomerular, basement membrane glomerular capillary wall antigens characterised by granular immunofluorescence patterns,in animal models of glomerulonephritis.</p>

scholarly journals An Investigation of the Antigenic Characteristics of the Renal Glomerulus in the Rat

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Maurice James Nicol
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Glomerular Basement Membrane ◽  
Immune Complexes ◽  
Capillary Wall ◽  
Glomerular Capillary Wall ◽  
Glomerular Capillary

<p>The finding of a granular deposition of immunoglobulin in the kidney in experimental animal models of glomerulonephritis has been been interpreted as resulting from the random deposition of immune complexes in the glomeruli. Recent data suggests that although immune complex deposition may be an important factor in some forms of glomerulonephritis, the in situ formation of immune complexes between circulating anti-kidney antibodies and fixed glomerular capillary wall antigens may also be a significant factor in the pathogenesis of some animal models of glomerulonephritis. To examine the characteristics of discontinuously represented glomerular capillary wall antigens in the rat, monoclonal antibodies were generated against a glomerular plasma membrane fraction, depleted of glomerular basement membrane, prepared from isolated Lewis rat glomeruli. A total of 17 hybridomas, generated from the fusion of splenocytes obtained from mice immunised with the glomerular membrane fraction produced monoclonal antibodies which reacted with discontinuously represented antigens in the glomerulus and renal tubules. One further hybridoma secreted a monoclonal antibody which reacted with an antigen present on glomerular and tubular nuclear membranes. No hybridomas were produced which secreted a monoclonal antibody which reacted with linearly arrayed glomerular basement membrane antigens. Two of these monoclonal antibodies, both of the IgM subclass and code-named PH7 and SC5, produced a heavy granular glomerular staining pattern when examined by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. Neither monoclonal antibody was kidney specific, with reactivity being demonstrated with a number of non-renal tissues. When administered intravenously to normal Lewis rats both SC5 and PH7 induced a mild proteinuric lesion. The proteinuria was not associated with histopathological changes at the light or electron microscope level. Immunoblotting experiments revealed that SC5 reacted predominantly with a protein band of 96 kDa present in detergent extracts of isolated glomeruli and glomerular plasma membranes. PH7 was shown to react with three low molecular weight proteins of 14, 13 and 11 kDa The findings of this study demonstrate the potential for a nephritogenic response to occur following the in situ formation of immune complexes between circulating anti-kidney antibodies and discontinuously arrayed non-glomerular, basement membrane glomerular capillary wall antigens characterised by granular immunofluorescence patterns,in animal models of glomerulonephritis.</p>

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