N. Iino et al., The three-dimensional structure of the neonatal mouse kidney as revealed by scanning electron microscopy after KOH treatment, MA MA SY SE, 7, 2001, pp. 415-421
The shape and arrangement of the developing nephrons were studied three-dim
ensionally by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the neonatal mouse kidn
ey. The specimens were treated with the KOH digestion method in order to re
move extracellular connective tissue components, thus enabling the direct o
bservation of the developing nephrons at various stages. At the subcapsular
region of the renal cortex, the ureteric ducts were observed as branched t
ubules with terminal swellings or ampullae. Newly formed blood vessels were
often associated with terminals of these ureteric ducts. The cup-shaped re
nal corpuscles had aggregations of mesangial cells with blood vessels in th
e groove. At the vascular pole of mature nephrons, extraglomerular mesangia
l cells were observed as a cellular sheet, which was continuous with the sm
ooth muscle layer of afferent and efferent blood vessels. The present study
also demonstrated the shape of the immature podocytes in relation to the e
ndothelial morphology of glomerular capillaries.