Three-dimensional architecture of podocytes revealed by block-face scanning electron microscopy.

ABSTRACT: Block-face imaging is a scanning electron microscopic technique which enables easier acquisition of serial ultrastructural images directly from the surface of resin-embedded biological samples with a similar quality to transmission electron micrographs. In the present study, we analyzed the three-dimensional architecture of podocytes using serial block-face imaging. It was previously believed that podocytes are divided into three kinds of subcellular compartment: cell body, primary process, and foot process, which are simply aligned in this order. When the reconstructed podocytes were viewed from their basal side, the foot processes were branched from a ridge-like prominence, which was formed on the basal surface of the primary process and was similar to the usual foot processes in structu

SUBMITTER: Ichimura K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4355681 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature