The formation of protein absorption droplets in the cells of the proximal convolution was studied in mouse kidney. Ox hemoglobin was administered intraperitoneally and kidney specimens were collected at intervals of 30 minutes to 4 days after injection. In the lumen of the nephron, hemoglobin was concentrated to an opaque mass whose relations with the brush border and the epithelium could be easily followed. It was found that hemoglobin passes through the brush border in between the microvilli, enters the channels of tubular invaginations at the bases of the brush border, and is transported in bulk into vacuoles in the intermediate cell zone. These vacuoles increase in size and are transformed through further concentration into dense absorption droplets. Using the opaque hemoglobin content of the nephron as a tracer, functional continuity of the system of the tubular invaginations with the lumen on one side and the vacuoles on the other was demonstrated. Mitochondria lie closely apposed to vacuoles and droplets, but are not primarily involved in droplet formation. 15 hours after injection and later, ferritin and systems of layered membranes become visible in the droplets as their density decreases. These membranes are interpreted as lipoprotein membranes; similar membranes are found in the lumen of the tubuli. It is suggested that phospholipids enter into the vacuoles together with hemoglobin from the tubular lumen and form membrane systems of lipoproteins in the droplets. At 3 to 4 days the droplets contain aggregates of ferritin, and the iron reaction becomes positive in the tubule cells. No significant changes were found in the Golgi apparatus or in the microbodies during hemoglobin absorption. At all time points investigated, the terminal bars seal the intercellular spaces against penetration by hemoglobin in the proximal and distal convolutions and in the collecting ducts.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
1 December 1960
Content prior to 1962 was published under the journal name
The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology
Article|
December 01 1960
HEMOGLOBIN ABSORPTION BY THE CELLS OF THE PROXIMAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE IN MOUSE KIDNEY
Fritz Miller
Fritz Miller
From the Rockefeller Institute. Dr. Miller is a Fellow of The Rockefeller Foundation, on leave of absence from Pathologisches Institut der Universität, Innsbruck, Austria
Search for other works by this author on:
Fritz Miller
From the Rockefeller Institute. Dr. Miller is a Fellow of The Rockefeller Foundation, on leave of absence from Pathologisches Institut der Universität, Innsbruck, Austria
Received:
June 02 1960
Copyright 1961 by The Rockefeller Institute Press
1960
J Biophys and Biochem Cytol (1960) 8 (3): 689–718.
Article history
Received:
June 02 1960
Citation
Fritz Miller; HEMOGLOBIN ABSORPTION BY THE CELLS OF THE PROXIMAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE IN MOUSE KIDNEY . J Biophys and Biochem Cytol 1 December 1960; 8 (3): 689–718. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.8.3.689
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionEmail alerts
Advertisement
Advertisement