Changes of ultrastructures of filtration membrane during development of rat renal corpuscle

Objective: To explore the ultrastructural characters of filtration membrane in the development of the rat renal corpuscle. Methods: Light and electron microscope combined with stereology methods were used to observe and measure the ultrastructural characters of filtration membrane at different developmental stages of rats. Results: In the development of the renal corpuscle, the height of podocytes and endothelial cells became markedly reduced, and the number of foot processes and endothelial fenestrae steadily increased. It was the podocyte that firstly formed basement membrane, and then the endothelial cells continued. Fusion of them led to the formation of a thick glomerular basement membrane. Conclusion: In the development of the renal corpuscle, it is the podocyte that firstly forms basement membrane, and then epithelial and endothelial basement membrane fuses to form the glomerular basement membrane.