Mesangio-capillary processes and their reactivo-mobile potentials in extreme exertion on the kidney.

3 types of mesangiocyte processes have been distinguished in the mesangium of a rat kidney by means of electron-microscopic investigation. Processes of type I contact with proliferations of glomerular capillary endothelium, those of type II begin prolabbing to the capillary, and processes of type III penetrate its lumen. In extreme conditions (simulating in rats of acute ischemia of the kidney with recirculation, compensatory hypertrophy of the remaining kidney) increase of the number and hypertrophy of mesangiocapillary processes of type is observed. Cases of complete displacement of a whole mesangial cell into the capillary have been described. The problem of functional significance of mesangio-capillary processes is being discussed.