Glomerular extracellular roughly granular material (ERGM). Its autofluorescent property and the question of its nuclear origin.

ABSTRACT

A glomerular extra-cellular roughly granular material (ERGM) has been described by several authors, mainly in association with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. This material is clearly identified on light and electron microscopy. Another peculiar morphological character of ERGM is its property of autofluorescence detailed in this study. The precise nature of this granular material remains questionable. Immunostaining shows the lack of superposition of autofluorescent ERGM with C3 and with C5b9. Nuclear origin of ERGM suspected on ultrastructural features failed to be proven by using immunolabelling with an anti-DNA serum.