Filtration Barrier
Filtration Barrier

Filtration Barrier

The filtration barrier of the glomerulus consists of a fenestrated capillary epithelium with a negatively charged surface that repels many plasma proteins. Note that in contrast to fenestrated epithelia in other parts of the body, the fenestrae in the kidney lack a diaphragm. Beneath the capillary epithelium is a thick basement membrane that is also negatively charged. The foot processes of the pododcytes form the final barrier. Note the slit diaphragm between the foot processes. These play a role in filtration of plasma as mutations in genes that encode proteins of slit diaphragms lead to proteinuria. What would happen if the basement membrane lost its negative charge?