Fig. 2

Scanning electron microscopy showing glycocalyx in fenestrated capillaries of the kidney and sinusoids of the liver under normal conditions. a Ultrastructure of glomerular capillaries under normal conditions. a1 Fenestrated capillary without lanthanum nitrate staining. Small pores are present on the surface of the endothelial cells. a2, a3 Lanthanum nitrate staining to visualize endothelial glycocalyx. a3 Expanded view of the area within the red rectangle in (a2). Endothelial glycocalyx covers the surface of glomerular capillaries. b Ultrastructure of podocytes on the outer surface of the glomerulus under normal condition. b1 Podocytes without lanthanum nitrate staining. Many podocytes firmly intertwine with each other to form a meshwork. b2, b3 Glycocalyx on podocytes visualized by lanthanum nitrate staining. b3 Expanded view of the area within the red rectangle in (b2). Glycocalyx overlays the surface of podocytes. c Ultrastructure of hepatic sinusoids under normal conditions. c1 Sinusoid without lanthanum nitrate staining. Sinusoids in liver are open-pore capillaries. c2, c3 Visualized glycocalyx in sinusoids. c3 Expanded view of the area within the red rectangle in (c2). The endothelial glycocalyx in sinusoids does not overlay the open fenestrations but is also present in the space of Disse