Filtration and Structure
Intraglomerular mesangial cells provide structural support for and regulate blood flow of the glomerular capillaries by their contractile activity. The initiation of contraction of mesangial cells is similar to that of smooth muscle. Contraction of mesangial cells is coupled with contraction of the basement membrane of the endothelium of glomerular capillaries. This causes a decrease in surface area of the basement membrane and thus a decreased glomerular filtration rate.
Intraglomerular mesangial cells are also major contributors to the extracellular matrix which contains fibronectin, type IV collagen, perlecan, and laminin.
Read more about this topic: Intraglomerular Mesangial Cell
Famous quotes containing the word structure:
“I really do inhabit a system in which words are capable of shaking the entire structure of government, where words can prove mightier than ten military divisions.”
—Václav Havel (b. 1936)