Histomorphology and Immunohistochemistry of a Congenital Nephromegaly Demonstrate Concurrent Features of Heritable and Acquired Cystic Nephropathies in a Girgentana Goat (Capra falconeri)

Figure 4

Ultrastructural findings of the renal tissue (SEM, TEM). Nephrons (a, e): (a) matured nephrons show normal structured glomerulum with capillary loops (arrow) and Bowman’s capsule (BC). (e) Correspondingly, TEM reveals granulocytes (Gr) within glomerular capillaries, surrounded by podocytes (P), mensangial cells (M), and endothelial cells (E). Epithelial proliferates/projections (b, f): (b) proliferates show several apical differentiations comprising microplicae/microfilaments (arrow) and supracellular granular constrictions (arrowhead). (f) Microplicae and granules are also obvious in TEM sections (arrowheads). Cell somata show numerous diffusely distributed round, demarked cytoplasmic structures and few organelles. Intercellular areas are characterized by several desmosomes (inset, arrows). Protrusions (c, g): (c) SEM shows a cobblestone-like, slightly convex cellular relief. (g) Epithelial surfaces of the protrusions show a predominantly cuboidal epithelium without visible apical structures (arrowhead). The underlying fibrovascular tissue is characterized by several fibroblasts (F) and capillaries (C). Cyst (d, h): (d) cyst wall epithelium appears similar to epithelial linings of the protrusions and mainly consists of a flattened and slightly convex epithelium. There are numerous intercellular formations of microplicae (arrow). (h) The epithelium predominantly appears flat and without any visible apical structures (arrowhead).

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