Quantitation of particles in the freeze-fractured nuclear membrane after renal ischemia.

Changes in the number and sizes of membrane-associated particles have been quantitated in the protoplasmic (P) and exoplasmic (E) fracture faces of the outer membrane of nuclei isolated from the inner cortex following renal ischemia and reflow in the rat. No changes were observed in the inner nuclear membrane. After 20-min ischemia, the number of particles in both fracture faces decreased. With reflow, the total number of particles decreased after both 20- and 60-min ischemia. The partition coefficient (Kp = CPF/CEF) increased from 10 to 11 and 17 at 20- and 60-min ischemia then fell below control values to a Kp of 7 after 120 min. After reflow, Kp steadily decreased except after 20-min ischemia followed by 240-min reflow when Kp began to rise. The sizes of particles were predominantly 60 A in the P face of control outer membranes but became larger after ischemia. After 20- and 60-min ischemia with reflow, the size distribution became more normal. The shifts in particle numbers and sizes seem to indicate modifications within the membrane resulting from ischemia.