Basement membranes consist of various proteins, the major ones being laminin and collagen type IV. Primary defects in these two proteins have been extensively associated with kidney pathologies. This study aimed to establish baseline information on the immunohistochemical distribution of laminin and collagen type IV, and to corelate these with the ultrastructure of basal laminae in the uriniferous tubules of the dromedary camel. Tissue samples were taken from the kidneys of eight adult female camels, and processed for immunohistochemical and ultrastructural investigations. Strong intensity of collagen type IV was observed within the basement membranes of Bowman's capsule. The thickness of the basal lamina of the parietal layer of Bowman's capsule varied extensively depending on the region of the renal corpuscle; the thicker areas were always associated with cuboidal epithelial cells. The glomerular basement membrane revealed strong immunostaining of laminin, whereas the mesangial matrix was strongly immunoreactive to collagen type IV. Abundant amount of laminin was found in the basement membranes of proximal convoluted tubules, thin limbs of the loop of Henle, and collecting ducts. Dense immunostainings of laminin and collagen type IV were observed in the medullary regions of uriniferous tubule, in which numerous projections extended from the basal laminae into the subjacent connective tissue. Overall, the present study revealed marked variations in the distribution of the basement membrane markers laminin and collagen type IV in the uriniferous tubules of camel kidney. The results have also shown difference in the thickness of basal laminae. This variation in thickness, however, was unlikely to be influenced by the amount of laminin and collagen type IV.

中文翻译：

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单峰骆驼（Camelus dromedarius）肾脏的基底膜：免疫组织化学和超微结构研究。

基底膜由多种蛋白质组成，主要是层粘连蛋白和IV型胶原。这两种蛋白的主要缺陷已与肾脏病变广泛相关。这项研究旨在建立有关层粘连蛋白和IV型胶原的免疫组织化学分布的基线信息，并将它们与单峰骆驼的泌尿小管中基底层的超微结构联系起来。从八只成年雌性骆驼的肾脏中取出组织样本，并进行免疫组织化学和超微结构研究。在鲍曼氏囊的基底膜内观察到IV型胶原的强强度。Bowman囊顶壁层的基底层厚度随肾小体区域的不同而有很大差异。较厚的区域总是与立方上皮细胞有关。肾小球基底膜显示层粘连蛋白强烈的免疫染色，而肾小球系膜基质对IV型胶原蛋白具有强烈的免疫反应性。在近曲小管的基底膜，Henle loop的细肢和收集管中发现了大量的层粘连蛋白。在泌尿小管的髓质区域观察到了层粘连蛋白和IV型胶原的密集免疫染色，其中许多突起从基底层延伸到下面的结缔组织。总体而言，本研究揭示了骆驼肾小管中基底膜标记层粘连蛋白和IV型胶原分布的显着变化。结果还显示了基底层厚度的差异。