THE BASE OF THE PROXIMAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE CELLS OF RAT KIDNEY

Abstract

From electron microscope studies of serial sections the three dimensional arrangement of the compartments on the base of proximal convoluted tubule cells of rat kidney is described. An extracellular basal labyrinth is found to be enclosed by these compartments, which with their mitochondria and the basal labyrinth are regarded as forming a functional unit. It is supposed that this basal unit serves for transfer of reabsorbed fluid from the cell into the labyrinth and for the development of hydrostatic pressure in the labyrinth to overcome the capillary pressure and to pass the reabsorbed fluid into the blood stream.