A clinical picture of familial continual peeling of the skin is described and discussed together with light and ultramicroscopic manifestations in one of the probands. The pattern of splitting distinguishes this condition from keratolysis exfoliativa. The ultramicroscopy exhibited mainly predominance of low-density keratocytes in the corneal layer, abnormalities in distribution of lamellar granules and disrupted coating of the cells in the intercellular spaces of the corneal layer.

Kidney samples of the adult gerbil Meriones crassus were aldehyde fixed and Epon embedded for studies of the general features of various parts of the nephrons, with particular attention to their basal laminae in all regions. Results obtained showed the presence of thick basal laminae (2–6 µm) in the parietal layer of Bowman’s capsule proximal convoluted tubule thin loop of Henle and distal convoluted tubule. With the aid of the electron microscope extracellular vesicular bodies were observed within the thick basal laminae in the previous regions. The bodies (50–500 nm in diameter) were found at various levels of the basal laminae. Some of them appeared to have been pinched off directly from the epithelial layer and to have moved to the underlying basal lamina which may suggest that these vesicular bodies originated from the epithelial layer. The bodies, with a variable electron opacity, may be found either in small groups or as a single structure surrounded by a clear halo of basal lamina.

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