The Fine Structure of Rat Renal Microbodies and Cytoplasmic Bodies Following Perfusion Fixation

Abstract

Microbodies have received extensive morphological and cytochemical investigation since they were first described by Rhodin in 1954. To our knowledge, however, all investigations of microbodies and cytoplasmic bodies of rat renal proximal tubule cells have employed immersion fixation. Tisher, et al. have shown convincing evidence of fine structural alteration of microbodies in rhesus monkey kidney following immersion fixation; these alterations were not encountered when in vivo intravascular perfusion was employed. In view of these studies, and the fact that techniques for perfusion fixation have been established specifically for the rat kidney by Maunsbach, it seemed desirable to employ perfusion fixation to study the fine structure and distribution of microbodies and cytoplasmic bodies within the rat renal proximal tubule.