The nephron of swiftlet - an ultrastructural study

It has been reported that the structural organization of the swiftlet nephron resembled that of the reptilian which was “loopless” – absence of the descending and ascending limbs of the loop of Henle. Being loopless and with a large cortex occupied mainly by the proximal tubules it is hypothes...

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Main Author: Lokman Hakim, Nur Liyana
Format: Project Paper Report
Language:English
Published: 2016
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78185/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78185/1/FPV%202016%2032%20-%20IR.pdf
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author Lokman Hakim, Nur Liyana
author_facet Lokman Hakim, Nur Liyana
author_sort Lokman Hakim, Nur Liyana
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description It has been reported that the structural organization of the swiftlet nephron resembled that of the reptilian which was “loopless” – absence of the descending and ascending limbs of the loop of Henle. Being loopless and with a large cortex occupied mainly by the proximal tubules it is hypothesized that the swiftlet’s nephron is structurally simple but functionally efficient. Accordingly the present study examined the morphology of the swiftlet’s nephron at the ultrastructural level and towards this objective samples of the swiftlet’s kidney collected were processed for transmission electron microscopy. Numerous microvilli, a high incidence of mitochondria and an extensive indentation and infolding of the basal epithelium of the proximal tubule indicated enhanced reabsorption of glomerular filtrate and its release into peritubular capillary. Efficiency of the nephron is further augmented by the tubules of the intermediate segment which also showed similar structural evidences – microvilli, mitochondria and basal indentations and infoldings - indicating there was still considerable reabsorption of glomerular filtrate in this part of the nephric tubules. The distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts also showed evidences of reabsorption and release of glomerular filtrate into peritubular capillary. An interesting observation in this study was the presence of many lipid droplets in the lumen of the nephron. Microvilli with dilated apical ends could be specially designed for the absorption of lipids in the intermediate segment. Thus the nephron of the swiftlet is simple as it is loopless but highly efficient as reabsorption take place throughout the entire length of the nephron.
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spelling upm-781852020-05-22T01:09:19Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78185/ The nephron of swiftlet - an ultrastructural study Lokman Hakim, Nur Liyana It has been reported that the structural organization of the swiftlet nephron resembled that of the reptilian which was “loopless” – absence of the descending and ascending limbs of the loop of Henle. Being loopless and with a large cortex occupied mainly by the proximal tubules it is hypothesized that the swiftlet’s nephron is structurally simple but functionally efficient. Accordingly the present study examined the morphology of the swiftlet’s nephron at the ultrastructural level and towards this objective samples of the swiftlet’s kidney collected were processed for transmission electron microscopy. Numerous microvilli, a high incidence of mitochondria and an extensive indentation and infolding of the basal epithelium of the proximal tubule indicated enhanced reabsorption of glomerular filtrate and its release into peritubular capillary. Efficiency of the nephron is further augmented by the tubules of the intermediate segment which also showed similar structural evidences – microvilli, mitochondria and basal indentations and infoldings - indicating there was still considerable reabsorption of glomerular filtrate in this part of the nephric tubules. The distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts also showed evidences of reabsorption and release of glomerular filtrate into peritubular capillary. An interesting observation in this study was the presence of many lipid droplets in the lumen of the nephron. Microvilli with dilated apical ends could be specially designed for the absorption of lipids in the intermediate segment. Thus the nephron of the swiftlet is simple as it is loopless but highly efficient as reabsorption take place throughout the entire length of the nephron. 2016-03 Project Paper Report NonPeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78185/1/FPV%202016%2032%20-%20IR.pdf Lokman Hakim, Nur Liyana (2016) The nephron of swiftlet - an ultrastructural study. [Project Paper Report]
spellingShingle Lokman Hakim, Nur Liyana
The nephron of swiftlet - an ultrastructural study
title The nephron of swiftlet - an ultrastructural study
title_full The nephron of swiftlet - an ultrastructural study
title_fullStr The nephron of swiftlet - an ultrastructural study
title_full_unstemmed The nephron of swiftlet - an ultrastructural study
title_short The nephron of swiftlet - an ultrastructural study
title_sort nephron of swiftlet - an ultrastructural study
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78185/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78185/1/FPV%202016%2032%20-%20IR.pdf