Cytoskeleton ultrastructure of podocytes and glomerular endothelial cells in man and in the rat.

The ultrastructural organization of the cytoskeleton of normal podocytes and glomerular endothelial cells was studied in man (adults and children) and in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. In podocytes of both species, cytoplasmic microtubules (MT) were observed in the cell body close to the Golgi apparatus and along the main axis of the major processes where they formed bundles. A network of intermediate filaments (IF) was observed in the cell body and in the major processes where they sometimes formed bundles parallel to MT, especially in man. Numerous clustered microfilaments (MF) were noticed in the foot processes close to the plasma membrane. In glomerular endothelial cells from both species, networks of MT and IF were observed in the cell body, whereas MF surrounded the endothelial fenestrations. The high degree of organization of the cytoskeleton suggests that it may play an important role in several functions of both cell types.