Freeze fracturing and freeze drying of renal tissue for scanning electron microscopy.

Abstract

The application of freeze-fracturing and freeze-drying technics to scanning electron microscopy of renal tissue is examined. Straightforward, reliable methods for fracturing and handling of such material during freezedying and vacuum coating are described. With these technics, the renal glomerulus either fractures right across or Bowman’s capsule “shells off” to reveal the underlying capillary surfaces. The former situation allows correlation with light and transmission electron microscopy, while the latter is useful for studying the three-dimensional structure of the podocytes. The technics are applicable to the study of human renal biopsies, as exemplified by preliminary comments concerning a case of “Goodpasture’s syndrome.”