Summary
A detailed analysis has been made of human renal biopsy tissue from thirteen subjects, judged to be “normal” by a variety of clinical tests. Analysis was made subjectively, and where possible by objective measurement, of routine diagnostic preparations, and of montages of entire glomeruli.
Each approach provided useful information which had not been recorded before. Subjective examination was valuable only in the detection of glomerular changes that represent glomerular damage by their very presence or which are present in extreme degree. The random photography of material prepared for routine examination provided data for the quantitation of several glomerular constituents, and information concerning epithelial cell organelle content. Whole glomerular montages provided the opportunity to measure many more parameters of overall glomerular architecture.
Comparisons were made, when possible, with the results of other workers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrews PM (1977) A scanning and transmission electron microscopic comparison of puromycin aminonucleosidase-induced nephrosis to hyperalbuminemia-induced proteinuria with emphasis on kidney podocyte pedicel loss. Lab Invest 36:183–97
Ayres BF, Bastian PD, Haynes WDG, Thompson A, Sangster JF, Seymour AE, Clarkson AR (1976) Renal and cardiac complications of drug abuse. Med J Aust 2:489–94
Bariety J, Callard P, Appay MD, Grossetete J, Mandet Ch (1974) Ultrastructural study of some frequent and poorly known intraglomerular structures. Adv Nephrol 3:153–72
Bariety J, Callard P (1975) Striated membranous structures in renal glomerular tufts. An electron microscope study of 340 human renal biopsies. Lab Invest 32:636–41
Bergstrand A, Bucht H (1958) Anatomy of the glomerulus as observed in biopsy material from young and healthy human subjects. Z Zeilforsch 48:51–73
Bloom PM, Hartmann JF, Vernier RL (1959) An electron microscopic evaluation of the width of normal glomerular basement membrane in man at various ages. Anat Rec 133:251
Churg J, Grishman E (1975) Ultrastructure of glomerular disease: A review. Kidney Int 7:254–70
Cohen AH, Mampaso F, Zamboni L (1977) Glomerular podocyte degeneration in human renal disease. An ultrastructural study. Lab Invest 37:30–42
Dunnill MS (1968) Quantitative methods in histology. Recent Adv Clin Pathol V:401–16
Fisher ER, Perez-Stable E, Zawadzki ZA (1964) Ultrastructural renal changes in multiple myeloma with comments relative to the mechanism of proteinuria. Lab Invest 13:1561–74
Gundersen HJG, Osterby R (1973) Statistical analysis of transformations leading to normal distribution of measurements of the peripheral glomerular basement membrane. J Microsc 97:293–99
Helmchen U, Kneisser U, Helmchen U, Bohle A (1977) Three-dimensional electron microscopy of the structure of the normal mesangium of the rat glomerulus. Kidney Int 11:215–6
Hurley RM, Drummond KN (1974) Glomerular enlargement in primary renal disease. A quantitative study. Arch Pathol97:389–91
Johnston WH, Latta H, Oswald L (1973) Variations in glomerular ultrastructure in rat kidneys fixed by perfusion. J Ultrastruct Res 45:149–67
Jones DB (1977) Correlative scanning and transmission electron microscopy of glomeruli. Lab Invest 37:569–79
Jorgensen F (1967) The ultrastructure of the normal human glomerulus. Dan Med Bull 14:281–7
Jorgensen F (1967) Electron microscopic studies of normal visceral epithelial cells. Lab Invest 17:225–42
Jorgensen F, Bentzon MW (1968) The ultrastructure of the normal human glomerulus. Thickness of glomerular basement membrane. Lab Invest 18:42–8
Lawler W, Tarpey P, Williams G, Acheson EJ, Mallick NP (1976) Diseases and histological normality of the renal glomerulus: A clinicopathologic study. J Clin Pathol 29:380–97
Mueller CB, Mason AD, Stout DG (1955) Anatomy of the glomerulus. Am J Med 18:267–76
Osawa G, Kimmelstiel P, Seelling V (1966) Thickness of glomerular basement membrane. Am J Clin Pathol 45:7–20
Osterby R (1971) Quantitative electron microscopy of the glomerular basement membrane. Lab Invest 25:15–24
Osterby R (1972) Morphometric studies of the peripheral glomerular basement membrane in early juvenile diabetics. I. Development of initial basement membrane thickening. Diabetologia 8:84–92
Osterby R (1973) A quantitative electron microscopic study of mesangial regions in glomeruli from patients with short term juvenile diabetes mellitus. Lab Invest 29:99–110
Pinto JA, Brewer DB (1974) Glomerular morphometry. I. Combined light and electron microscope studies in normal rats. Lab Invest 30:657–63
Shea SM, Morrison AB (1975) A stereological study of the glomerular filter in the rat. Morphometry of the slit diaphragm and basement membrane. J Cell Biol 67:436–43
Spargo BH (1975) Practical use of electron microscopy for the diagnosis of glomerular diesease. Hum Pathol 6:405–20
Trump BF, Benditt EP (1962) Electron microscopic studies of human renal disease. Observations of normal visceral glomerular epithelium and its modification in disease. Lab Invest 11:753–81
Urizar E, Tinglof BO, Smith FG, McIntosh RM (1974) Persistant asymptomatic proteinuria in children. Functional and ultrastructural evaluation with special reference to glomerular basement membrane (G.B.M.) thickness. Am J Clin Pathol 62:461–71
Walker F (1973) The origin, turnover and removal of glomerular basementmembrane. J Pathol 110:233–44
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Haynes, W.D.G. The normal human renal glomerulus. Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathol 35, 133–158 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02889155
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02889155