The three-dimensional structure of the neonatal mouse kidney as revealed by scanning electron microscopy after KOH treatment

The shape and arrangement of the developing nephrons were studied three-dimensionally by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the neonatal mouse kidney. The specimens were treated with the KOH digestion method in order to remove extracellular connective tissue components, thus enabling the direct observation of the developing nephrons at various stages. At the subcapsular region of the renal cortex, the ureteric ducts were observed as branched tubules with terminal swellings or ampullae. Newly formed blood vessels were often associated with terminals of these ureteric ducts. The cup-shaped renal corpuscles had aggregations of mesangial cells with blood vessels in the groove. At the vascular pole of mature nephrons, extraglomerular mesangial cells were observed as a cellular sheet, which was continuous with the smooth muscle layer of afferent and efferent blood vessels. The present study also demonstrated the shape of the immature podocytes in relation to the endothelial morphology of glomerular capillaries.