Glomerulocystic kidney disease in a Belgian Malinois dog: an ultrastructural, immunohistochemical, and lectin-binding study

Renal cysts in the cortex of a juvenile Belgian Malinois dog with acute renal failure were studied by means of light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry for intermediate filaments, and binding for wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), peanut agglutinin (PNA), and Maclura pomifera agglutinin (MPA) lectins to determine the morphological and histochemical features of the epithelial cells of these cysts. The cysts were renal corpuscles with expanded urinary space. Glomerular tufts were small with poorly developed capillary loops and increased mesangial matrix. Continuity with the proximal tubule was evident in some cystic glomeruli. Two cell types lined Bowman's capsule. One was squamous with a central cilium and microvilli. The other had morphological and histochemical features of immature podocytes (parietal podocytes). These cells were round and protruded into the urinary space; they had thick cytoplasmic projections that resembled foot processes of podocytes, microvilli, and filtration slits. The parietal podocytes expressed vimentin and cytokeratins and had affinity for WGA as do normal immature podocytes. These features suggest that the parietal podocytes are derived by metaplasia of the parietal cells. The basement membrane of Bowman's capsule was irregularly thickened and showed multifocal glycosylation changes with lectin histochemistry (WGA, PNA, MPA) in areas adjacent to the parietal podocytes. Histologic and ultrastructural findings in this dog are consistent with glomerulocystic kidney disease. This is the second report of canine glomerulocystic kidney disease. Features are similar to those of the human counterpart, but it is unclear whether genetic defects cause the disease in the dog. The presence of parietal podocytes in all cysts suggests that abnormal differentiation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this type of polycystic kidney disease.