SCANNING ION MICROSCOPY MAPPING OF BASEMENT-MEMBRANE ELEMENTS AND ARTERIOLES IN THE KIDNEY AFTER SELENIUM SILVER INTERACTION

The effects of selenium and silver salts was studied by scanning ionic microscopy during experimental argyria mapping of the different basem ent membrane elements. The ionic microscope (IMS 4F) was equipped with a high resolution spectrometer giving high spatial resolution on the image obtained. After long-term treatment with silver salt alone, silv er and sulphur deposits were observed in the membranes. After administ ration of selenium and silver salt, it was possible to map nitrogen, s ulphur, selenium and silver to the glomerular basement membrane as wel l as to the wall of the kidney arterioles. In the latter, sulphur, sel enium and silver were localized only in the elastic laminae of the wal ls. This process of precipitation of silver deposits in the membrane c an be interpreted as process of selenium ''detoxification'' of the org anism.