Contractile Activity of Human Glomeruli in Culture

Abstract

Glomeruli from normal and diseased human kidneys were explanted in tissue culture chambers and were studied by phase-contrast microscopy and time-lapse cinematography. Observation from the time of explantation to several months of culture revealed that glomerular cells are capable of prolonged survival and various activities in vitro. Glomerular cells retained in culture some of the morphological and functional characteristics described in fixed preparations and revealed, in addition, dynamic aspects peculiar to living cells. Cells lining glomerular capillary loops exhibited pulsatile movements which caused glomeruli to contract and expand rhythmically. Persistent, rhythmic and synchronous contractions of entire glomeruli were dependent upon the presence of viable, grossly intact pulsatile cells in all capillary loops. This activity was impaired or lost through injury or death of cells.

Contraction of Cultured Rat Glomerular Cells of Apparent Mesangial Origin after Stimulation with Angiotensin II and Arginine Vasopressin

“…3); (b) the niuclear deformationls (i.e., folds) simnilar to those described by MIajno et al (24) for conitracted endotheliuin (Fig. 3B); and (c) the loss andl/or disorientationi of nmicrofilainents and dense patches simlilar to that described for smiiooth munscle cells from the stomnach of Buifo oncarinius (23 (27) and( in the presence of AGII (28); mesangial cells have been implicated in both ofthese processes because they conitain microfilamiients ancd mvosin (22,29), anid bv autoradiography they localize [3H]AGII (30). However, visualization of their conitractioni has never l)een observed; (b) the in vivo physiological studies by Brennler anid his associates (8) usinig PTH, AVP (7), anid PGE, (9), and by Blantz et al (6) (12), whereas PTH stimulated the prod both cAMP and cGMP (10)(11)(12)(13).…”

Immunoelectron Microscopic Demonstration of Thy-1 Antigen on the Surfaces of Mesangial Cells in the Rat Glomerulus

“…The smaller group are phagocytic cells presumed to be monocytes, since they bear la antigens, and estimated to constitute a small percentage of mesangial cells [13,15], The dominant group is of renal origin and resembles a smooth muscle cell because it is contractile, containes myosin and bears angiotensin II receptors [1,2]. Thy-1 antigen was present throughout the mesangia examined by light microscopy and on the majority of mesangial cells by electron microscopy in the present study, indicat ing that the predominant mesangial cells are the major expressors of Thy-1 antigen in the glomerulus.…”

Mechanism of sodium modulation of glomerular angiotensin receptors in the rat.

“…These cells contain smooth muscle elements that contract in response to physiological amounts of angiotensin II (8)(9)(10). When specific angiotensin receptors are occupied by the hormone in the intact isolated glomerulus, there is a decrease in glomerular diameter, which is thought to result in reduced surface area available for filtration.…”