Morphological Processes of Foot Process Effacement in Puromycin Aminonucleoside Nephrosis Revealed by FIB/SEM Tomography

Background Foot process effacement is one of the pathologic indicators of podocyte injury. However, the morphologic changes associated with it remain unclear. Methods To clarify the developmental process, we analyzed puromycin nephrotic podocytes reconstructed from serial focused-ion beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) images. Results Intact podocytes consisted of four subcellular compartments: cell body, primary process, ridge-like prominence (RLP), and foot process. The RLP, a longitudinal protrusion from the basal surface of the cell body and primary process, served as an adhesive apparatus for the cell body and primary process to attach to the glomerular basement membrane. Foot processes protruded from both sides of the RLP. In puromycin nephrotic podocytes, foot process effacement occurred in two ways: by type-1 retraction, where the foot processes retracted while maintaining their rounded tips; or type-2 retraction, where they narrowed across their entire lengths, tapering toward the tips. Puromycin nephrotic podocytes also exhibited several alterations associated with foot process effacement, such as deformation of the cell body, retraction of RLPs, and cytoplasmic fragmentation. Finally, podocytes were reorganized into a broad, flattened shape. Conclusions The three-dimensional reconstruction of podocytes by serial FIB/SEM images revealed the morphologic changes involved in foot process effacement in greater detail than previously described.