Sequential postmortem changes of glomeruli. Their detection by scanning electron microscopy.

Postmortem changes were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in renal tissue from five species of animals. Specimens were collected at intervals up to 24 hours after death. Six distinct morphological alterations were identified in the renal glomerulus, including capillary loop constriction, changes in microvillus morphologic features, podocyte surface blebs, swelling or fusion of pedicels, podocytes erosion, and retraction or loss of pedicels. Glomerular size remained nearly constant in all five species. The results of these studies demonstrate that pathologic evaluation by SEM of tissue specimens from the kidney is acceptable up to 60 minutes post mortem.