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Junctional complexes of the tubular cells in the human kidney as revealed with freeze-fracture

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Summary

Intercellular junctions between human kidney tubular cells were studied by the freeze-fracture technique.

The number of strands of the zonulae occludentes increased gradually from the proximal segment to the collecting tubule. Only one strand was visible in the proximal segment (in contrast to 2–4 strands of the neighbouring Bowman's capsule). In the thin segment 2–4 strands were revealed. In the distal segment 1–5 strands were present in the pars recta, 4–6 in the pars convoluta. The most extensive and complex zonulae occludentes were found in the collecting tubule. Gap junctions were seen only between proximal tubular cells.

The extent of the zonulae occludentes along the tubules in human kidney is very similar to that observed in the kidney tubules of other mammals. The findings accord well with electrophysiological measurements and with the results of tracer studies on experimental animals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

    K. Kühn & E. Reale

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  1. K. Kühn
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  2. E. Reale
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We are greatly indebted to Mrs. Dipl.-Ing. G. Wermbter and to Prof. K.H. Gertz (Division of Renal Physiology, Hannover Medical School) for their valuable criticism and discussion, to Prof. P. Kolle (Division of Urology, Hannover Medical School) and his colleague's who performed the needle biopsies. We also wish to thank Mr. H. Heidrich for his excellent technical assistance.

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Kühn, K., Reale, E. Junctional complexes of the tubular cells in the human kidney as revealed with freeze-fracture. Cell Tissue Res. 160, 193–205 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220577

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220577

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