EFFECT OF 2H2O ON MEMBRANOUS STRUCTURES OF PROXIMAL AND DISTAL CONVOLUTED TUBULES OF MOUSE

Mice were fed exclusively with 2H2O until they became moribund. The mice were then sacrificed and prepared for electron microscopy by conventional methods. The cells of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules have in many respects a normal appearance. However, the endoplasmic reticulum is absent, whilst a great number of peculiar inclusions are found in the cytoplasm, that consist either of a few or of many concentrically arranged membranes. Occasionally they penetrate between the brush border. There is some evidence that these membrane systems originate from short membranes found in the cytoplasm. It is suggested that the pathological changes originate from changes on the molecular level brought about by the substitution of hydrogen by deuterium. © 1968.