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Primary cilia disappear in rat podocytes during glomerular development.

ABSTRACT: Most tubular epithelial cell types express primary cilia, and mutations of primary-cilium-associated proteins are well known to cause several kinds of cystic renal disease. However, until now, it has been unclear whether mammalian podocytes express primary cilia in vivo. In this study, we determined whether primary cilia are present in the podocytes of rat immature and mature glomeruli by means of transmission electron microscopy of serial ultrathin sections. In immature glomeruli of fetal rats, podocytes express the primary cilia with high percentages at the S-shaped body (88 +/- 5%, n = 3), capillary loop (95 +/- 4%, n = 4), and maturing glomerulus (76 +/- 13%, n = 5) stages. The percentage of ciliated podocytes was significantly lower at the maturing glomerulus stage than at the former two stages. In mature glomeruli of adult rats, ciliated podocytes were not found at all (0 +/- 0%, n = 11). These findings indicate that the primary cilia gradually disappear in rat podocytes during glomerular development. Since glomerular filtration rate increases during development, the primary cilia on the podocytes are subjected to a stronger bending force. Thus, the disappearance of the primary cilia presumably prevents the entry of excessive calcium-ions via the cilium-associated polycystin complexes and the disturbance of intracellular signaling cascades in mature podocytes.

SUBMITTER: Ichimura K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2898502 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Primary cilia disappear in rat podocytes during glomerular development.

Ichimura Koichiro K Kurihara Hidetake H Sakai Tatsuo T

Cell and tissue research 20100522 1

Most tubular epithelial cell types express primary cilia, and mutations of primary-cilium-associated proteins are well known to cause several kinds of cystic renal disease. However, until now, it has been unclear whether mammalian podocytes express primary cilia in vivo. In this study, we determined whether primary cilia are present in the podocytes of rat immature and mature glomeruli by means of transmission electron microscopy of serial ultrathin sections. In immature glomeruli of fetal rats, ...[more]

PMID: 20495826

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Project description:BackgroundA transient increase in cytosolic Ca2+ (the "Ca2+ transient") determines the degree and duration of myocyte force development in the heart. However, we have previously observed that, under the same experimental conditions, the Ca2+ transients from isolated cardiac myocytes are reduced in amplitude in comparison to those from multicellular cardiac preparations. We therefore questioned whether the enzymatic cell isolation procedure might remove structures that modulate intracellular Ca2+ in some way. Primary cilia are found in a diverse range of cell types, and have an abundance of Ca2+-permeable membrane channels that result in Ca2+ influx when activated. Although primary cilia are reportedly ubiquitous, their presence and function in the heart remain controversial. If present, we hypothesized they might provide an additional Ca2+ entry pathway in multicellular cardiac tissue that was lost during cell isolation. The aim of our study was to look for evidence of primary cilia in isolated myocytes and ventricular tissue from rat hearts.MethodsImmunohistochemical techniques were used to identify primary cilia-specific proteins in isolated myocytes from adult rat hearts, and in tissue sections from embryonic, neonatal, young, and adult rat hearts. Either mouse anti-acetylated ?-tubulin or rabbit polyclonal ARL13B antibodies were used, counterstained with Hoechst dye. Selected sections were also labelled with markers for other cell types found in the heart and for myocyte F-actin.ResultsNo evidence of primary cilia was found in either tissue sections or isolated myocytes from adult rat ventricles. However, primary cilia were present in tissue sections from embryonic, neonatal (P2) and young (P21 and P28) rat hearts.ConclusionThe lack of primary cilia in adult rat hearts rules out their contribution to myocyte Ca2+ homoeostasis by providing a Ca2+ entry pathway. However, evidence of primary cilia in tissue from embryonic and very young rat hearts suggests they have a role during development.

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Primary cilia disappear in rat podocytes during glomerular development.

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Primary cilia disappear in rat podocytes during glomerular development.

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