Cell renewal of glomerular cell types in normal rats. An autoradiographic analysis.
Normal adult Sprague-Dawley rats received either a single or repetitive injection of the DNA precursor 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR). For autoradiography semi-thin sections were prepared 2 hr to 14 days after labeling. The majority of labeled cells noted in glomerular tufts were endothelial cells. Mesangial cells had a lower production rate. Podocytes revealed no evidence of proliferation. Bowman's capsule cells showed a higher labeling index than tuft cells at all times. Neither the urinary nor the vascular pole was found to be a proliferative zone for Bowman's capsule cells. The flash and repetitive labeling experiments demonstrated a constant rate of cell renewal of about 1% per day, resulting in a long life span for endothelial and mesangial cells as well as Bowman's capsule cells. These data provide a basis for cell kinetic studies in models of glomerular diseases.
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D002455:Cell Division; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013936:Thymidine; D014316:Tritium
D014316:Tritium; D013936:Thymidine