The cortex of the kidney is distinguished by characteristic renal corpuscles, each of which consists of an outer envelope (Bowman's capsule) surrounding a fluid-filled space (Bowman's space) within which is suspended a glomerulus.
In this image, Bowman's space may be seen opening into the beginning of a proximal tubule.
The macula densa may be seen at the vascular pole of the corpuscle, displaying its characteristic appearance of several distal tubule nuclei crowded densely together.
PAS staining of this specimen accentuates the filtration membrane as well as the basement membrane of renal tubules and Bowman's capsule. Mesangial matrix is also PAS-positive.
Although the glomerulus in this image clearly contains many cells with varied appearances, their individual identities as endothelial cells, podocytes, or mesangial cells are difficult to determine reliably on relatively thick-sectioned specimens such as this.
Thinner sections can permit one to resolve identities of individual cells.
Comments and questions: dgking@siu.edu
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https://histology.siu.edu/crr/RN047b.htm
Last updated: 29 May 2022 / dgk