SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY OF GLOMERULAR AND NON GLOMERULAR RED-BLOOD-CELLS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 20  (1) , 11-16
Abstract
Phase contrast microscopic examination of the urine was recently shown to be of value in predicting whether hematuria is due to glomerulonephritis or lesions of the lower urinary tract. Glomerular red cells show variations in size and shape and distorted surfaces. Nonglomerular red cells are uniform in size and shape and have smooth surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy was performed on urine sediment containing either glomerular or non glomerular red cells to better define their surface characteristics. Glomerular red cells exhibited a variety of forms, most cells having lumpy projections from the surface, some showing fragmentation of the membrane and others showing gross distortion. Nonglomerular red cells show smooth surfaces and usually maintain the normal biconcave disc shape of peripheral red blood cells. Scanning electron microscopy can better define surface structural abnormalities of urinary glomerular and nonglomerular red blood cells.

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