Scanning electron microscopic studies on the postnatal alterations in the renal corpuscle of Indian domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)

Ultrastructural studies were conducted on the renal corpuscle (RC) of postnatal porcine kidney. The study was carried out in the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar on 18 pairs of fresh kidney specimens collected from slaughter houses in and around Hyderabad. The specimens were divided into three groups based on the age of the animals. SEM features of Group I kidneys (0-4 weeks) revealed renal cortex with immature nephrons near the capsule and mature nephrons close to renal medulla. The surface of mature glomeruli was covered by podocytes which consisted of a cell body with central nucleus visible as a prominent bulge. The podocytes had primary cytoplasmic processes which branched into secondary and tertiary processes and formed fine inter-digitating slits with adjacent podocyte processes. Tri-lobular appearance of glomeruli was also observed in Group III (10 weeks).