Phenotypic Expression of ADAMTS13 in Glomerular Endothelial Cells
Figure 2
Ultramorphology of glomeruli in wild-type and deficient mice.
Scanning electron microscopy of kidney from wild-type mice showed normal morphology as depicted in panel A. In the renal glomeruli the Bowman's capsule (BC), glomerular basement membrane (GBM), endothelial cell capillaries (C), erythrocytes (E), podocytes (P) and urinary space (US) were identified. Panel B shows a glomerulus from an Adamts13−/− mouse demonstrating thickened and irregular capillary walls (arrow). These findings were enlarged in panel C from another glomerulus from an Adamts13+/+ mouse showing thin glomerular capillary walls (arrow heads) and in panel D from an Adamts13−/− mouse showing thickened capillary walls (arrows) with deposits on the vessel lumina. Panel E demonstrates lack of platelet deposits in glomerular capillaries from an Adamts13+/+mouse, further confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy (insets). Panel F was taken from another glomerulus in an Adamts13−/− mouse and shows platelets (within circles) deposited on a vessel wall. Insets in panel F show immunoelectron microscopy with labeled platelets (arrows) deposited on glomerular capillary walls. Scale bar represents 10 µm (A, B), 5 µm (C–F) and 2.5 µm (insets in E, F). Panels A, B, D–F and insets were from mice with the 129X1/SvJ and C57BL/6 genetic background and panel C was from mice with the C57BL/6J and CAST/Ei genetic background.