Acute reactions with collagen production in renal glomeruli of rats as studied electron microscopically

• Published in: Journal of ultrastructure research Vol. 3; no. 2; pp. 171 - 185
• Main Authors: Bencosme, S.A., Stone, R.S., Latta, H., Madden, S.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier B.V 01.12.1959
• Subjects: Animals; Collagen; Electrons; Kidney - toxicity; Kidney Glomerulus; Microscopy, Electron; Rats; Uranium - toxicity; URANIUM/toxicology; KIDNEY/toxicology
• ISSN: 0022-5320; 1878-2345
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-5320(59)90013-9

Striking glomerular changes are seen electron microscopically in rat kidneys after acute uranyl nitrate poisoning. More interesting than the several glomerular epithelial cell reactions to this injury, perhaps, is the development of the nodular centrolobular lesion containing collagen fibers. The glomerular epithelial cell changes include loss of foot processes, the appearance of dense deposits in foot processes or in the larger portions of cytoplasm which replace lost foot processes, hyaline droplets, other cytoplasmic bodies with varying internal membranes and granules, myelin figures, and cytoplasmic vacuoles. The functional significances of these changes and of the observed proteinuria, polyuria, and oliguria are discussed. The nodular centrolobular lesion was identified with a trichrome stain after embedding in methacrylate. As seen with the electron microscope it consists of several components lying between the central dense layer of the basement membrane and endothelial cells. Separately distinguished components include intercapillary cells and their processes lying in intimate contact with extracellular (a) small dense granules 30 m μ in diameter, (b) large bodies 400 m μ in diameter, vaguely forming rough cords, and (c) collagen fibers, randomly oriented and appearing within four days after injection of uranium. The intercapillary cells, often containing clear vacuoles with very dense and thick osmiophilic walls, may later prove to be endothelial cells but their intimate association with collagen fibers raises other alternatives.