Biological thixotropy of glomerular basement membrane and the implications of thixotropic in explaining basement membrane permeability.

Glomerular basement membranes (GBMs) are considered to exhibit the characteristics of biological thixotropic systems, and because of this GBM permeability is determined by intravascular pressure. The significance of pressure as the major determinant of GBM permeability is discussed. Factors leading to GBM permeability to albumin following interruption of renal blood flow are examined, and a possible explanation for the phenomenon is proposed.