Spontaneous apoptosis of podocytes in explanted glomeruli: Technical note

Abstract

Despite the extensive use of isolated glomeruli for kidney research, little is understood about whether and how isolation and explantation affect the structure and function of the glomerulus. In this report, we investigate the incidence of apoptosis in explanted, normal rat glomeruli. By using ladder detection assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling and histological analysis, the present study provides evidence that significant number of resident cells, especially podocytes, spontaneously undergo apoptosis immediately after explantation of glomeruli.