Biomaterial Database

Scanning electron microscopic study of normal human glomerulogenesis and of fetal glomeruli in congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type. 1981

H Autio-Harmainen, and R Väänänen, and J Rapola

Kidneys from 5 normal fetuses and 3 with congenital nephrotic syndrome gestational age of 13 to 24 weeks, were studied under a scanning electron microscope. Differentiation of the visceral epithelial cells was observed in normally developing glomeruli. The originally cuboidal, smooth epithelial cells first flattened and acquired cytoplasmic buds on the cell margin. The buds gradually grew longer and branched out to form regular interdigitating foot processes. In the most mature glomeruli the majority of the visceral epithelial cells were trabeculated and the cytoplasmic processes were tightly wound around the glomerular capillaries. In the glomeruli of specimens from fetuses with congenital nephrotic syndrome the epithelial differentiation was different. The individual epithelial cells varied in size and shape and formed irregular cell groups. The cytoplasmic processes of visceral epithelial cells were shortened and flattened. Also, there was a marked loss of interdigitation of adjacent processes. The findings confirm previous transmission electron microscopic observations of pathological foot processes in glomeruli of fetuses with congenital nephrotic syndrome and show that the differentiation of the visceral epithelial cells is abnormal prior to the formation of the final interdigitating processes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007678	Kidney Glomerulus	A cluster of convoluted capillaries beginning at each nephric tubule in the kidney and held together by connective tissue.	Glomerulus, Kidney
D008855	Microscopy, Electron, Scanning	Microscopy in which the object is examined directly by an electron beam scanning the specimen point-by-point. The image is constructed by detecting the products of specimen interactions that are projected above the plane of the sample, such as backscattered electrons. Although SCANNING TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY also scans the specimen point by point with the electron beam, the image is constructed by detecting the electrons, or their interaction products that are transmitted through the sample plane, so that is a form of TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY.	Scanning Electron Microscopy,Electron Scanning Microscopy,Electron Microscopies, Scanning,Electron Microscopy, Scanning,Electron Scanning Microscopies,Microscopies, Electron Scanning,Microscopies, Scanning Electron,Microscopy, Electron Scanning,Microscopy, Scanning Electron,Scanning Electron Microscopies,Scanning Microscopies, Electron,Scanning Microscopy, Electron
D009404	Nephrotic Syndrome	A condition characterized by severe PROTEINURIA, greater than 3.5 g/day in an average adult. The substantial loss of protein in the urine results in complications such as HYPOPROTEINEMIA; generalized EDEMA; HYPERTENSION; and HYPERLIPIDEMIAS. Diseases associated with nephrotic syndrome generally cause chronic kidney dysfunction.	Childhood Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome,Frequently Relapsing Nephrotic Syndrome,Multi-Drug Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome,Pediatric Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome,Steroid-Dependent Nephrotic Syndrome,Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome,Steroid-Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome,Multi Drug Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome,Nephrotic Syndrome, Steroid-Dependent,Nephrotic Syndrome, Steroid-Resistant,Nephrotic Syndrome, Steroid-Sensitive,Nephrotic Syndromes,Steroid Dependent Nephrotic Syndrome,Steroid Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome,Steroid Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome,Steroid-Dependent Nephrotic Syndromes,Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndromes,Steroid-Sensitive Nephrotic Syndromes,Syndrome, Nephrotic,Syndrome, Steroid-Sensitive Nephrotic
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011296	Prenatal Diagnosis	Determination of the nature of a pathological condition or disease in the postimplantation EMBRYO; FETUS; or pregnant female before birth.	Diagnosis, Prenatal,Fetal Diagnosis,Fetal Imaging,Fetal Screening,Intrauterine Diagnosis,Antenatal Diagnosis,Antenatal Screening,Diagnosis, Antenatal,Diagnosis, Intrauterine,Prenatal Screening,Antenatal Diagnoses,Antenatal Screenings,Diagnosis, Fetal,Fetal Diagnoses,Fetal Imagings,Fetal Screenings,Imaging, Fetal,Intrauterine Diagnoses,Prenatal Diagnoses,Prenatal Screenings,Screening, Antenatal,Screening, Fetal,Screening, Prenatal
D005260	Female		Females
D005315	Fetal Diseases	Pathophysiological conditions of the FETUS in the UTERUS. Some fetal diseases may be treated with FETAL THERAPIES.	Embryopathies,Disease, Fetal,Diseases, Fetal,Embryopathy,Fetal Disease
D005333	Fetus	The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN.	Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal
D005865	Gestational Age	The age of the conceptus, beginning from the time of FERTILIZATION. In clinical obstetrics, the gestational age is often estimated from the onset of the last MENSTRUATION which is about 2 weeks before OVULATION and fertilization. It is also estimated to begin from fertilization, estrus, coitus, or artificial insemination.	Embryologic Age,Fetal Maturity, Chronologic,Chronologic Fetal Maturity,Fetal Age,Maturity, Chronologic Fetal,Age, Embryologic,Age, Fetal,Age, Gestational,Ages, Embryologic,Ages, Fetal,Ages, Gestational,Embryologic Ages,Fetal Ages,Gestational Ages
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man