Summary
We present a structural analysis of the ability of the biomechanical unit consisting of mesangium and glomerular basement membrane to maintain normal capillary architecture in the face of mechanical challenges due to high intraglomerular pressures. Capillary support function may be considered in terms of the stabilization of local form (development of wall tension against capillary dilation) and global form (centripetal fixation of capillary loops to maintain higher order form). The pathologic consequences of the loss of this support are illustrated by way of experimental models of mechanical mesangial failure. Such failure may express itself as mesangial widening, increased transmesangial macromolecule “traffic,” ballooning of capillary segments, and unfolding of capillary loops. Mechanisms are described by which these structural changes may lead to segmental glomerular sclerosis.
Article PDF
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bagchus WM, Hoedemaeker PJ, Rozing J, Bakker WW (1986) Glomerulonephritis induced by monoclonal anti-Thy 1.1 antibodies. A sequential histological and ultrastructural study in the rat. Lab Invest 55:680–687.
Blantz RC, Konnen KS, Tucker BJ (1976) Angiotensin II effects upon the glomerular microcirculation and ultrafiltration coefficient of the rat. J Clin Invest 57:419–434.
Drenckhahn D, Schnittler H, Nobiling R, Kriz W (1990) Ultrastructural organization of contractile proteins in rat glomerular mesangial cells. Am J Pathol 137:1343–1351.
Dworkin LD, Brenner BM (1992) Biophysical basis of glomerular filtration. In: Seldin DW, Giebisch G (eds) The kidney: physiology and pathophysiology, 2nd edn. Raven, New York, p 979.
Dworkin LD, Ichikawa I, Brenner BM (1983) Hormonal modulation of glomerular function. Am J Physiol 244:F95-F104.
Dworkin LD, Hostetter TH, Rennke HG, Brenner BM (1984) Hemodynamic basis for glomerular injury in rats with desoxycorticosterone-salt hypertension. J Clin Invest 73:1448–1461.
Elger M, Sakai T, Kriz W (1990) Role of mesangial cell contraction in adaptation of the glomerular tuft to changes in extracellular volume. Pflugers Arch 415:598–605.
Grond J, Koudstaal J, Elema JD (1985) Mesangial function and glomerular sclerosis in rats with aminonucleoside nephrosis. Kidney Int 27:405–410.
Keane WF, Raij L (1985) Relationship among altered glomerular barrier permselectivity, angiotensin II, and mesangial uptake of macromolecules. Lab Invest 52:599–604.
Kondo Y, Akikusa B (1982) Chronic Masugi nephritis in the rat. An electron microscopic study on evolution and consequences of glomerular capsular adhesions. Acta Path Jpn 32:231–242.
Kriz W, Elger M, Lemley KV, Sakai T (1990) Mesangial cell-glomerular basement membrane connections counteract glomerular capillary and mesangium expansion. Am J Nephrol 10:4–13.
Kriz W, Elger M, Lemley KV, Sakai T (1990) Structure of the glomerular mesangium: a biomechanical interpretation. Kidney Int 38 [Suppl 30]:S2-S9.
Kriz W, Hackenthal E, Münter K, Nagata M, Nobiling R, Sakai T (1991) The isolated perfused rat kidney: a model to study glomerular mesangial failure. Contr Nephrol (in press).
Mené P, Simonson MS, Dunn MJ (1989) Physiology of the mesangial cell. Physiol Rev 69:1347–1424.
Michael AF, Keane WF, Raij L, Vernier RL, Mauer SM (1980) The glomerular mesangium. Kidney Int 17:141–154.
Morita T, Churg J (1983) Mesangiolysis. Kidney Int 24:1–9.
Morita T, Kihara I, Oite T, Yamamoto T, Suzuki Y (1978) Mesangiolysis. Sequential ultrastructural study of Habu venom-induced glomerular lesions. Lab Invest 38:94–102.
Mundel P, Gilbert P, Kriz W (1991) Podocytes in glomerulus of rat kidney express a characteristic 44 kD protein. J Histochem Cytochem 39:1047–1056.
Murphy ME, Johnson PC (1975) Possible contribution of basement membrane to the structural rigidity of blood capillaries. Microvasc Res 9:242–245.
Nagata M, Kriz W (1992) Glomerular damage after uninephrectomy in young rats. II. Mechanical stress on podocytes as a pathway to sclerosis. Kidney Int 42.
Nagata M, Schärer K, Kriz W (1992) Glomerular damage after uninephrectomy in young rats. I. Hypertrophy and distortion of capillary architecture. Kidney Int 42.
Olivetti G, Kithier K, Giacomelli F, Wiener J (1981) Glomerular permeability to endogenous proteins in the rat. Effect of acute hypertension. Lab Invest 44:127–137.
Olivetti G, Giacomelli F, Wiener J (1985) Morphometry of superficial glomeruli in acute hypertension in the rat. Kidney Int 27:31–38.
Olson JL, Hostetter TH, Rennke HG, Brenner BM, Venkatachalam MA (1982) Altered glomerular permselectivity and progressive sclerosis following extreme ablation of renal mass. Kidney Int 22:112–126.
Remuzzi A, Pata V, Mariano R, Remuzzi G, Brenner BM (1991) Blood flow distribution and local filtration in a geometrically reconstructed glomerular capillary network (abstract). J Am See Nephrol 2:526.
Rennke HG, Anderson S, Brenner BM (1989) Structural and functional correlations in the progression of kidney disease. In: Tisher CC, Brenner BM (eds) Renal pathology. Lippincott, Philadelphia, p 43.
Saito Y, Kida H, Takeda S, Yoshimura M, Yokoyama H, Koshino Y, Hattori N (1988) Mesangiolysis in diabetic glomeruli: its role in the formation of nodular lesions. Kidney Int 34:389–396.
Sakai T, Kriz W (1987) The structural relationship between mesangial cells and basement membrane of the renal glomerulus. Anat Embryol (Berl) 176:373–386.
Sakai T, Lemley KV, Hackenthal E, Nagata M, Nobiling R, Kriz W (1992) Changes in glomerular structure following acute mesangial failure in the isolated perfused kidney. Kidney Int 41:533–541.
Steinhausen M, Endlich K, Wiegman D (1990) Glomerular blood flow. Kidney Int 38:769–784.
Striker Morel-Maroger L, Killen PD, Chi E, Striker GE (1984) The composition of glomerulosclerosis. I. Studies in focal sclerosis, crescentic glomerulonephritis, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Lab Invest 51:181–191.
Weibel ER (1980) Stereological methods, vol 2. Theoretical foundations. Academic, London, p 92.
Yurchenco PD, Tsilibary EC, Charonis AS, Furthmayr H (1986) Models for the self-assembly of basement membrane. J Histochem Cytochem 34:93–102.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lemley, K.V., Elger, M., Koeppen-Hagemann, I. et al. The glomerular mesangium: capillary support function and its failure under experimental conditions. Clin Investig 70, 843–856 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180755
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180755