The Glomerular Lesions of Diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The reports of Kimmelstiel and Wilson¹and Murakami,²in 1936, established the identity of special glomerular lesions in association with diabetes mellitus. Since then considerable interest has centered about the location, composition, and pathogenesis of glomerular changes in diabetes. In this communication we wish to record the results of the application of a series of histochemical procedures to the kidneys from six diabetic subjects. Sections from these kidneys, prepared by the usual techniques, demonstrated the glomerular lesions of diabetes as described in the literature.* The findings presented herein serve to add emphasis to the presence of a multiplicity of ingredients within certain of the diabetic glomerular lesions. The observations reflect on the general problem of vascular hyalin by distinguishing further between "cellular hyaline lesions" and "acellular hyaline lesions" within the glomeruli. Also, additional support for the smooth-muscle origin of certain forms of vascular hyalin is presented. Review of