Study on the construction and diversity of actin filaments as supporting structure of the glomerular podocytes

1)足细胞的形态发生和狭缝膜的分子结构：我们制备了一种单克隆抗体（P-31），识别足细胞中间丝相关的新蛋白（p250）。我们从生化角度发现，在包括足细胞在内的多种细胞中发现的微管相关蛋白MAP4与神经元特异性的MAP3相同。我们发现新泻大学（肾脏研究所）原生产的单克隆抗体5-1-6可识别人类裂隙横膈膜组成的大鼠型肾素。2)间质作为肾小球支撑结构的特点：为了研究系膜细胞的收缩性及其产生细胞外基质的能力，我们对血管紧张素II受体AT1基因零突变小鼠的肾小球结构进行了电镜分析。我们研究了肾间质的组成细胞以及构成间质与实质之间界限的肾小管基膜。为了更好地了解肾间质的特性，我们对肝间质进行了超微结构研究，发现两种胶原原纤维最可能分别由成纤维细胞和胆道上皮细胞产生。3)肾脉管系统的演变和发展：肾脏在结构和功能上与血管系统密切相关。它的进化和发展要在血管系统进化和发展的大背景下进行解释。我们以人胎盘干绒毛为血管发育模型，对其血管的超微结构进行了研究，并首次对干绒毛内的动静脉进行了超微结构表征。我们还报道了肾血管系统的特点、发育和演变。

1)Morphogenesis of podocytes and molecular architecture of slit membrane : We produced a monoclonal antibody (P-31) recognizing a new protein associating the intermediate filaments of podocytes (p250). We found bioochemically that the microtubule associating protein MAP4 found in variety of cells including podocytes is identical to MAP3 specific for neurons. We found that the monoclonal antibody 5-1-6 formerly produced at Niigata University (Kidney Research Institute) recognized rat-type nephrin which is consituent of slit diaphragm in the human beings.2) Characteristics of interstitium as supporting structure of glomerulus : To investigate contractility of tile mesangial cells and their ability to produce extracellular matrices, we analyzed electron microscopically the glomerular structure of null mutant mice for the gene of AT1 receptor for angiotensin II.We studied the constituent cells of renal interstitium as well as the renal tubular basement membrane which constitute the boundary between interstitium and parenchyme. In order to understand better the characteristics of renal interstitium, we studied the ultrastructtue of hepatic interstitium and found two populations of collagen fibrils which are produced most probably by fibroblasts and biliary epithelial cells, respectively.3) Evolution and development of renal vasculature : The kidney is structurally and functionally in close association with the vascular system. Its evolution and development is to be interpreted in the broad context of evolution and development of the vascular system. We studied the ultrastrucrure of vasculature in the stem villi of human placenta as model of developing blood vessels, and identified for the first time the arteries and veins within the stem villi after their ulstrastructural characterization. We reported also the charactresitics, development and evolution of renovascular system.