Assessment of Kidney Mitochondrial Function by High-Resolution Respirometry, Transmission Electron Microscopy, and Histological Techniques

Abstract

Proper kidney function depends highly on mitochondria homeostasis. This organelle is the primary source of ATP production in the kidney and regulates other cellular processes such as redox and calcium homeostasis. Although the mitochondria's primary recognized function is cellular energy production, through the function of the Krebs cycle, electron transport system (ETS), as well as oxygen and electrochemical gradient consumption, this function is interconnected with multiple signaling and metabolic pathways, making bioenergetics a central hub in renal metabolism. Furthermore, mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics, and mass are also strongly related to bioenergetics. This central role is not surprising given that mitochondrial impairment, including functional and structural alterations, has been recently reported in several kidney diseases. Here, we describe assessment of mitochondrial mass, structure, and bioenergetics in kidney tissue and renal-derived cell lines. These methods allow investigation of mitochondrial alterations in kidney tissue and renal cells under different experimental conditions.

Keywords: Enzyme histochemistry; Kidney histology; Mitochondrial bioenergetics; Mitochondrial mass.