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Abstract
There have been exciting recent advances in our understanding of the structural and molecular biology of the glomerular slit diaphragm, as described in a report in this issue of the JCI. These findings, combined with data on the permeability of the basement membrane and evidence that the endothelium may be a more important barrier than often supposed, are allowing a clearer understanding to emerge of how the 3 parts of the glomerular capillary wall jointly determine its functional properties.
Authors
William M. Deen
Figure 2
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Slit diaphragm structure proposed by Rodewald and Karnovsky (1 ). A central filament is connected to the podocyte membranes by alternating bridge fibers. The view is in the direction of filtrate flow. Figure reprinted with permission from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (17 ).
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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)