Three-dimensional ultrastructure of glomerular injury in serum sickness nephritis using the quick-freezing and deep-etching method.

The three-dimensional ultrastructure of the glomerulus in serum sickness nephritis has been investigated by the quick-freezing and deep-etching method. Compact granular immune deposits were localized in filamentous networks in the lamina densa and mesangial matrices. These constitutional fibrils with diameters of 8-15 nm, were directly attached to the immune deposits. The filamentous networks became markedly loosened around the deposits. In podocytes, reticular microfilaments with positive decoration by myosin subfragment 1 (S1) were increased in flattened foot processes and directly attached to the cell membranes. Fine filaments with diameters of 4-7 nm were undecorated by S1 and connected with actin filaments as cross-bridges. Intermediate filaments were also increased in the cell bodies and primary processes of podocytes. Connecting fibrils in lamina rara externa were partially disrupted. The immune deposits were primarily detected in the networks of lamina densa and actually destroyed the size barrier composed of filamentous networks. Moreover, the mesangial deposits also disorganized mesangial networks to probably alter mesangial flow through the matrices. Increased actin filaments in foot processes seemingly reinforced the cell membranes and the connecting fibrils in lamina rara externa, which prevented the initial detachment of podocytes from the basement membrane.