Contractile proteins in podocytes: immunocytochemical localization of actin and alpha-actinin in normal and nephrotic rat kidneys |
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Authors: | Mario Lachapelle Moise Bendayan |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128 Succ A Montréal, H3C 3J7, Québec, Canada
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Abstract: | Actin and alpha-actinin immunoreactive sites have been localized at the electron microscope level by the protein A-gold immunocytochemical
technique in podocytes of normal and nephrotic rat renal tissues. In normal renal glomeruli, fibrillar networks located in
the core of foot processes or bundles of micro filaments interconnecting them were found to be labelled for these two cytoskeletal
proteins. On the other hand, in nephrotic renal glomeruli, concomitant with the loss of podocytic foot processes a reorganization
of the podocytic cytoskeleton and a concentration of some of its elements into thick uniform bands was observed. Actin and
alpha-actinin were revealed in these bands. Control experiments confirmed the specificity of the labelling obtained. Our results
suggest that normal podocytes contain an actin-based contractile system that might contribute to the maintenance of the particular
cell shape of these cells and that the rearrangement of the podocytic cyto-skeleton occurring in the nephrotic syndrome might
account for the changes in the foot processes and contribute to the alteration in glomerular function.
This work was supported by grants from the Medical Research Council of Canada |
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Keywords: | Kidney Podocyte Cytoskeletal proteins Nephrotic syndrome Immunocytochemistry |
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