Novel cell contact between podocyte microprojections and parietal epithelial cells analyzed by volume electron microscopy.

Novel cell contact between podocyte microprojections and parietal epithelial cells analyzed by volume electron microscopy. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2020 Apr 06;: Authors: Wrede C, Hegermann J, Mühlfeld C Abstract Podocytes are highly specialized cells with a clear cell polarity. It is known that in health and disease microvilli protrude from the apical surface of the podocytes into the urinary space. As a basis to better understand the podocyte microprojections/microvilli, the present study analyzed their spatial localization, extension and contact site with parietal epithelial cells (PEC). Using different electron microscopic (EM) techniques, renal corpuscules of male, young adult, healthy C57BL/6 mice fixed by vascular perfusion were analyzed. Serial block-face scanning EM was used to visualize entire corpuscules, focused ion beam scanning EM was performed to characterize microprojection/microvilli-rich regions at higher magnification and transmission EM of serial sections was used to analyze the contact zone between podocyte microprojections and PEC. Numerous microprojections originating from the primary processes of podocytes were present in the urinary space in all regions of the corpuscule. They often reached the apical surface of PEC but did not make junctional contacts. At high resolution it was observed that the glycocalyx of both cells was in contact. Depending on the distance between podocytes and PEC, these microproje...
Source: Am J Physiol Renal P... - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Renal Physiol Source Type: research