Subcellular morphological changes in the rat kidney after phosphorus burn.
Experimental phosphorus burns were performed on male rats, in order to evaluate the subcellular changes which had occurred as a result of their lesions. In addition to the external wound caused by the burn itself, pathological changes were observed macroscopically and microscopically in various body organs, mainly the kidneys. These were investigated under the electron microscope for subcellular alterations at their damaged sites, and for biochemical aberrations that were observed in those rats. In the phosphorus-burnt rats the glomeruli were ischemic, showed capillary collapse and exhibited proliferation of mesangial areas and basement membrane thickening. Many necrotic cells were observed in the proximal tubule, where large vacuoles containing myelin-like structures were identified. The lumen of the proximal tubules were completely occluded by cell debris and the cytoplasm was necrotic. Due to the damage caused to the glomeruli, high concentrations of serum urea, serum SGPT and PO-4 were assayed in the phosphorus-burnt rats. These changes may account for the high mortality rate after phosphorus burns and may further understanding of the damage as well as ways of approaching it.
D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000648:ultrastructure
D010758:Phosphorus