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Description

The glomeruli network of capillaries filters the blood and the filtrate then enters the renal tubule. Unlike most capillary beds, the glomerular capillaries exit into efferent arterioles rather than venules. The resistance that exists in efferent arterioles causes sufficient hydrostatic pressure within the glomerulus to provide the force for ultrafiltration. Glomerular endothelial cells that create an interface between blood and tissue compartments are responsible for regulating vasomotor tone, trafficking of leukocytes, and maintenance of maintain hemostasis. Unlike endothelium in other tissues, the normal glomerular endothelium is extremely attenuated, being only about 50 to 150 nm in height around the perimeter of the capillary loops. Glomeruli of human kidneys are shown to be rich sialoglycoprotein, which is chemically distinct from rat podocalyxin. (Ref.: Ballermann, BJ (2005). Kidney Int. 67(5), 1668-1671, Kerjaschki, D., et al. (1986). J. Clin. Invest. 78(5), 1142-1149).