Microbodies of the rat renal proximal tubule: ultrastructural and cytochemical investigations.

The present study was undertaken to provide a detailed morphological and cytochemical characterization of the microbodies of the rat renal proximal tubule following perfusion fixation. The following observations were made: 1) Two basic types of microbodies (Mb-I and Mb-II) can be identified. Mb-I have both circular and tubular profiles which are located peripherally within the granular matrix of these microbodies. Mb-II have marginal plates and crystalloid inclusion in addition to circular and tubular profiles. 2) Circular and tubular profiles, 100 nm in diameter, described by previous investigators as being infrequent in occurrence, are the most consistent morphological characteristic of rat renal microbodies after perfusion fixation. These profiles have a homogeneous center surrounded by a double or single ring of granules. The uniform size and spacing of these granules within profiles establish a basic 100 A periodicity found in both types of microbodies. 3) Evidence is presented which suggests that both "nucleoids" and "tubular protrusion rods" as described by other investigators of the rat renal microbodies may result from poor fixation and/or osmotic stress. 4) The density of the matrix of Mb-I is, in contrast to previous reports, greater than the density of adjacent mitochondria. 5) Marginal plates or crystalloid inclusions were demonstrated in some microbodies (Mb-II) of all the rats studied; periodicities of 100, 200, and 300 A were identified within these structures. 6) Both types of microbodies were positive for catalase activity, but were negative for acid phosphatase activity. On the basis of both morphological and cytochemical criteria, it seems plausible that these two populations of renal microbodies (Mb-I and Mb-II) represent a morphological and functional continuum.