Ruthenium-red-stained anionic charges of rat and mice mesothelial cells and basal lamina: the peritoneum is a negatively charged dialyzing membrane

The peritoneum has been classically considered to be an inert passive membrane. Previous studies demonstrated the presence of fixed anionic charges at the level of the peritoneal microvasculature and the subserosal interstitium. The present study describes the selective distribution of fixed anionic charges in the mesothelial cell plasmalemma and organelles as well as in the submesothelial basal lamina of rat and mice visceral, parietal and diaphragmatic peritoneum. These data support the idea that the peritoneum should be considered a negatively charged biological dialyzing membrane with selective capabilities. Therefore, transperitoneal transfer of charged solutes cannot be analyzed just on the basis of their molecular weight, size and shape.