Transmission electron micrographs showing: A) the filtration barrier from NP glomeruli (from 5 rats) showing all the structural components of the filtration barrier, including the fenestrations of the glomerular endothelium (arrowheads), the GBM, the podocyte pedicels (pp) and the filtration slits crossed by tenuous diaphragm membranes (arrows).

<p>B–F) the filtration barrier from LP glomeruli (from 5 rats) showing a drastic decrease in the number of pedicels and slit diaphragms. Irregular electron-dense masses occur in the podocyte cytosol. Note in B the increased thickness of GBM compared to what is observed in A–G) in LP glomeruli, we found PECs in the process of differentiating into podocytes.