Anatomy of the glomerulus as observed in biopsy material from young and healthy human subjects.

Abstract

Renal biopsy has been performed on three young and healthy human subjects. A light microscopic investigation of material fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin and stained with Ladewig's modification of the Mallory staining shows in each of two of the patients severe changes of one glomerulus. These changes are probably inflammatory reactions and are similar to what is observed in subacute glomerulonephritis. Changes are also observed in the glomeruli of the third patient but they are so slight that they could not be regarded as definite lesions. The authors presume that these changes in the glomeruli are due to an allergic inflammation evoked by inflammations of the throat. Elektron microscopic investigation of other parts of the same biopsy material shows considerable modifications of the usual structure of the capillary epithelial cells. The mitochondria are enlarged and in the cytoplasm a number of very large vesicles appear. It is presumed that these changes are reversible and that they are connected with a change of function of the glomeruli with an increased uptake of fluid in the cells. It cannot be excluded, however, that these changes are irreversible and are signs of an incipient destruction of cells during the filtration through the capillary wall. The authors emphasize that it is very important that changes of this kind may occur in healthy subjects and that one may not draw any definite conclusions from their presence in biopsy material from patients with different diseases; at least, if only single glomeruli are damaged.