Structural links between the renal stem/progenitor cell niche and the organ capsule.

A special feature of the renal stem/progenitor cell niche is its always close neighborhood to the capsule during organ development. To explore this link, neonatal kidney was investigated by histochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. For adequate contrasting, fixation of specimens was performed by glutaraldehyde including tannic acid. The immunohistochemical data illustrate that renal stem/progenitor cells are not distributed randomly but are positioned specially to the capsule. Epithelial stem/progenitor cells are found to be enclosed by the basal lamina at a collecting duct (CD) ampulla tip. Only few layers of mesenchymal cells are detected between epithelial cells and the capsule. Most impressive, numerous microfibers reacting with soybean agglutinin, anti-collagen I and III originate from the basal lamina at a CD ampulla tip and line between mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells to the inner side of the capsule. This specific arrangement holds together both types of stem/progenitor cells in a cage and fastens the niche as a whole at the capsule. Electron microscopy further illustrates that the stem/progenitor cell niche is in contact with a tunnel system widely spreading between atypical smooth muscle cells at the inner side of the capsule. It seems probable that stem/progenitor cells are supplied here by interstitial fluid.