Ultrastructure of the glomerular filtration membrane of autotransplanted canine kidneys stored for 24 hours

In order to study the effects of kidney preservation for 24 hr on the ultrastructure of the glomerular filtration membrane, i.e., endothelium, basement membrane and podocytes, renal autotransplantations were performed in dogs. The kidneys were preserved according to the Belzer principle using a Gambro perfusion apparatus. Renal biopsies were taken from normal dogs and from canine kidneys transplanted without prior preservation. In four dogs living for 3 months after renal preservation, transplantation and contralateral nephrectomy, the renal function became normal. Electron microscopy of the glomeruli revealed almost no changes which could not be attributed to artifactual changes induced by specimen preparation. The basement membrane and the foot processes were intact.