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Membrane infrastructure in Urinary Tubules

International Review of Cytology, ISSN: 0074-7696, Vol: 73, Issue: C, Page: 183-242
1981
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Article Description

This chapter describes the freeze-fracture ultrastructure of the plasma membrane of epithelial cells at the level of the glomerulus, proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule, and collecting duct. The chapter provides a qualitative description of the membrane faces and junctional differentiations. A quantitative analysis of the number and size of intramembrane particles representing protein-containing structures in the membrane is also provided. Freeze-fracturing involves freezing a tissue specimen at a low temperature of -150°C, fracturing the frozen specimen with a cooled microtome blade, and then shadow-casting the frozen and fractured surface with platinum and carbon. The systematic application of the freeze-fracture technique to the kidney revealed an impressive mosaic of membrane structure among the epithelial cells lining the urinary tubules. There are variations in the density, size, and shape of intramembrane particles among membrane domains of the same cell, among different cells, and in the degree of development of intercellular junctions between cells.

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