Abstract
The glomerular mesangium is composed of matrix material and at least two cell types. One is a bone marrow-derived phagocyte and the other is a smooth muscle-like cell. The phagocytic cell represents approximately 3-7% of the total mesangial cell population. The other, more abundant, cell type appears to be contractile and therefore has been proposed to play a role in regulating the surface area for filtration, one component of the ultrafiltration coefficient, K[f]. In this review we discuss the contractile properties of cultured mesangial cells as well as the phenotypic alterations that lead to loss of isotonic contraction after prolonged culture.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | F457-F463 |
Journal | American Journal of Physiology - Renal Fluid and Electrolyte Physiology |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 4 |
State | Published - Jan 1 1985 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology