Patterns of vascular sprouting in the postnatal development of the cerebral cortex of the rat

Light microscopic histochemistry for alkaline phosphatase was employed in a study of the development of vascular sprouting, with respect to time and distribution, in the rat cerebral cortex. Sprouts were counted in the full thickness of the cerebral cortex at each day from birth to 21 days of age. Several distinct bursts of sprouting activity were observed at specific times and levels of cortex. From birth to 4 days of age, sprouting was intense in the superficial third of the cortex. At 7 to 8 days, a burst of sprouting was found which was greatest in the middle third. Additional bursts of sprouting appeared at 10 and 14 days. Developing vessels with characteristics of arteries, capillaries, or sprouts were alkaline-phosphatase positive, while veins were not. It is concluded that alkaline phosphatase is a useful marker for identification of both mature and immature vasculature, as it reveals patent and nonpatent vessels, and the sprouts which are precursors of the mature vascular bed. New vessels developing in the cortex arise mainly from blind sprouts of capillaries, evidently in response to the metabolic demands imposed by the maturational process. At birth, the majority of intracortical vessels are capillaries. By 10 days of age, most perforating vessels from the surface have taken on arterial or venous characteristics. The findings are discussed in connection with morphological and biochemical differentiation and the pattern of vascularization in the mature cerebral cortex.     

Die Nierenmarkhypoxie: Ein Schlüssel zum Verständnis des akuten Nierenversagens?

Summary The ability to produce a concentrated urine is imposed by a uniquely low ambient oxygen pressure in the renal medulla due to shunt diffusion within the vascular bundles. As the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TAL-segment) is able to glycolyse anaerobically, a phase of oxygen deficiency may be bridgespanned. It allows an exceptionally high oxygen extraction of 80% in this area. If oxygen capacity is reduced systematically, which can be effected in the isolated kidney model by using cell free perfusate, a typical pattern of lesions occur in TAL-segments. Segments near vascular bundles remain intact, as they take advantage from a radial oxygen diffusion originating from vascular bundles. The extent of lesions is increasing directed to the inner medulla due to the reduction of oxygen pressure, whereas lesions are not present in the inner medulla itself. Cells of TAL-segments are swelling during oxygen deficiency, when transport work surpasses the available energy necessary due to the luminal fluid inflow. Lesions could be prevented, when oxygen capacity was enhanced by adding erythrocytes or when transport was blocked by furosemide. Swollen cells in TAL-segments however are able to aggravate medullary hypoxia by an outflow block in vivo.Secondly, it can be demonstrated, that oxygen shunt diffusion is not only present in renal medulla but also within renal cortex especially as a preglomerular diffusion shunt for blood gases. Thus PCO₂ has been measured to be 65 mmHg in the outermost cortical zone and thereby some 20 mmHg higher than renal venous blood. Our own measurements of the PO₂ at superficial glomeruli in vivo using MWF-rats demonstrate values as low as 42–46 mmHg at average and a simultaneously measured arterial PO₂ of 90 mmHg in systemic blood. This represents a markedly higher desaturation of hemoglobin than found in renal venous blood. This unexpected high preglomerular shuntdiffusion is likely localized within interlobular vessels, where thinwalled arteries and veins exhibiting the wall structure of capillaries are generally in close contact. Following this concept, PO₂ of the superficial cortical zone is low and the PO₂ of the juxtamedullary cortical zone is not far from arterial PO₂. Plasmaskimming may modify O₂-pressure as well as O₂-capacity within the different cortical zones. These results may explain, why proximal tubules within the renal cortex — which exhibit a low enzymatic activity to glycolyse anaerobically compared to TAL-segments — develop lesions very rapidly under ischemic or hypoxic conditions or when the demand of energy for transport work cannot be produced aerobically. This becomes evident especially within areas of oxygen deficiency at the outer stripe of outer medulla, where predominantly P₃-segments in the interbundle area are involved however much less TAL-segments. This may also explain, that the production of erythropoietin is localized within the renal cortex and outer stripe of outer medulla, as oxygen deficiency can be measured effectively in this area. The common error, that oxygen supply of the kidney is abundant, must be revised: it is at the brink of oxygen deficiency in the case of renal medulla and at shortage also for renal cortex.     

Node retraction during patterning of the urinary collecting duct system

This report presents a novel mechanism for remodelling a branched epithelial tree. The mouse renal collecting duct develops by growth and repeated branching of an initially unbranched ureteric bud: this mechanism initially produces an almost fractal form with young branches connected to the centre of the kidney via a sequence of nodes (branch points) distributed widely throughout the developing organ. The collecting ducts of a mature kidney have a different form: from the nephrons in the renal cortex, long, straight lengths of collecting duct run almost parallel to one another through the renal medulla, and open together to the renal pelvis. Here we present time-lapse studies of E11.5 kidneys growing in culture: after about 5 days, the collecting duct trees show evidence of ‘node retraction’, in which the node of a ‘Y’-shaped branch moves downwards, shortening the stalk of the ‘Y’, lengthening its arms and narrowing their divergence angle so that the ‘Y’ becomes a ‘V’. Computer simulation suggests that node retraction can transform a spread tree, like that of an early kidney, into one with long, almost-parallel medullary rays similar to those seen in a mature real kidney.     

Morphology of interstitial cells in the healthy kidney

Renal interstitial cells play an important role in renal function and renal diseases. We describe the morphology of renal interstitial cells in the healthy kidney. We distinguish within the renal interstitium (1) renal fibroblasts and (2) cells of the immune system. Fibroblasts are in the majority and constitute the scaffold of the kidney; they are interconnected by junctions, and are attached to tubules and vessels. Although the phenotype of fibroblasts shows some variation depending on their location in the kidney and on their functional stage, their recognition as fibroblasts is possible on account of structural features. Among the cell types of the second group, antigen-presenting dendritic cells are the most abundant in in the peritubular interstitial spaces of healthy kidneys. Their incidence is highest in the inner stripe of the outer medulla. They share some morphological features with fibroblasts but lack others — junctional complexes, morphologically defined connections with tubules and vessels, and the prominent layer of actin filaments under the plasma membrane — that are characteristic for fibroblasts. Dendritic cells in healthy kidneys are morphologically different from macrophages, which are characterized by abundant primary and secondary lysosomes. In healthy kidneys macrophages are restricted to the connective tissue of the renal capsule and the pelvic wall, and to the periarterial connective tissue. Lymphocytes are rare in healthy kidneys. The distinction of cell types by morphology is supported by differences of membrane proteins. Among all interstitial cells in the renal cortex, fibroblasts alone exhibit ecto-5-nucleotidase. Dendritic cells constitutively have a high abundance of MHC class II protein. Both proteins are mutually exclusive. Rat macrophages display the membrane antigen ED 2 and lymphocytes exhibit specific surface antigens, depending on their type and functional stage, e.g., CD4 or CD8.     

Development of the intrarenal vascular system of the puppy kidney

This study investigates the development of the vascular system of the puppy kidney (1-21 days after birth) after preparing casts of the renal vessels. At two days, the intrarenal vascular system distal to the afferent arteriole is strikingly different than that of the adult. The glomeruli of the outer cortex consist of a single dilated vessel while those of the mid and inner cortex possess an increasingly larger number of capillary loops. The efferent arterioles vary greatly in appearance from outer to inner cortex. Those in the nephrogenic zone are characteristically short and narrow and join a larger venous vessel termined a sinusoidal capillary. An efferent system somewhat similar to that of the adult is seen in the mid and inner cortex. One of the most obvious differences noted between the puppy and adult kidney is the relative lack of peritubular capillary networks throughout the cortex of the puppy kidney. The puppy possesses large, irregular vessels termed sinusoidal capillaries. The most rudimentary sinusoids are found in the outer cortex with more mature vessels in the inner cortex. The vascular arrangement of the efferent arteriole and sinusoidal capillary appears as a post-glomerular shunt. Functionally, the shunt would direct blood flow away from the proximal tubule and thus could result in a low extraction ratio and Tm for secreted solutes.     

Development of the intrarenal vascular system of the puppy kidney.

This study investigates the development of the vascular system of the puppy kidney (1-21 days after birth) after preparing casts of the renal vessels. At two days, the intrarenal vascular system distal to the afferent arteriole is strikingly different than that of the adult. The glomeruli of the outer cortex consist of a single dilated vessel while those of the mid and inner cortex posses an increasingly larger number of capillary loops. The efferent arterioles vary greatly in appearance from outer to inner cortex. Those in the nephrogenic zone are characteristically short and narrow and join a larger venous vessel termined a sinusoidal capillary. An efferent system somewhat similar to that of the adult is seen in the mid and inner cortex. One of the most obvious differences noted between the puppy and adult kidney is the relative lack of peritubular capillary networks throughout the cortex of the puppy kidney. The puppy possesses large, irregular vessels termed sinusoidal capillaries. The most rudimentary sinusoids are found in the outer cortex with more mature vessels in the inner cortex. The vascular arrangement of the efferent arteriole and sinusoidal capillary appears as a post-glomerular shunt. Functionally, the shunt would direct blood flow away from the proximal tubule and thus could result in a low extraction ratio and Tm for secreted solutes.     

Analysis of fluctuations of capillary blood flow in the cortex of rat kidneys during ischemia

The dynamics of fluctuations of capillary blood flow in the cortex of rat kidneys under conditions of transient occlusion of renal arteries and veins or simultaneous occlusion of afferent and efferent vessels was studied by laser Doppler flowmetry. The initial variability of blood flow in the right kidney was higher than in the left kidney. The most pronounced changes in the right kidney were observed during occlusion and subsequent recirculation. In the left kidney, the most pronounced changes were found during occlusion and after arterial occlusion. Spectral analysis gave similar results. The recovery of renal blood flow after transient venous occlusion took longer time than after arterial occlusion (especially in the right kidney). Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 128, No. 8, pp. 148–152, August, 1999     

Studies on the vasa vasorum of the human renal artery.

The transplantation of a donor kidney is currently the treatment of choice for terminal renal insufficiency. However, major postoperative problems may be caused by vascular complications. It was therefore decided to look for possible correlations between these vascular problems and the arterial wall supply. The following methods were used to elucidate the origin and distribution of nutrient vessels: 1. Injection of the abdominal aorta with resin in three fresh cadavers. 2. The precise microscopic location of the branches originating from the renal arteries in eighteen autopsy subjects. 3. Abdominal angiography and selective angiography of the first left lumbar artery and left renal artery in one patient. It was found that the renal artery receives its blood supply from both internal and external nutrient vessels. The external vascular supply of the renal arterial wall originates from the aorta itself, from the inferior suprarenal artery (which sometimes has connections with the first and/or second lumbar artery) or from the diffuse vascular system of the retroperitoneal space. Because of the variety in number, course and origin of these nutritional vessels, an ideal point for the anastomosis of the renal artery cannot be indicated.     

Structural evidence for counter-current flow in proximal tubules versus pertitubular capillaries in the rat kidney. Evaluation of the counter-current mechanism between the proximal convoluted tubules and the peritubular capillaries in the rat nephron

BACKGROUND: In spite of the very high exchange of water and solutes between the proximal tubules and the peritubular capillaries, very little is known about flow directions in these two interrelated structures. We therefore developed a morphological technique suitable for the quantitative evaluation of a counter-current system between the proximal convoluted tubules and the peritubular capillaries in rat renal cortex. METHODS: In male pentothal-anesthetized Wistar rats (body weight 200-250 g), India ink was injected into the aorta above the renal arteries, followed by instant freezing of the right kidney in isopentane at -165 degrees C, and subsequent freeze-substitution in alcohol. In microscopic slides from kidneys in which only 20-55% of the cortical peritubular capillary loops was filled with ink--representing the arterial end of the capillaries--and in which the proximal tubular segmentation could be identified in PAS-stained sections, the segments of the convoluted proximal tubules were quantitatively compared with regard to the presence of ink-stained and unstained peritubular capillaries in nephrons from the whole renal cortex. RESULTS: In the microscopic specimens of the five animals used both the loops from the first segment (P1) of the proximal convoluted tubule and those of the second segment (P2) were systematically packed closely together, the transitional segment (P1-2) being interposed between the groups. Around the loops of P1, 8%+/-2% of the capillaries was stained with India ink. In contrast, surrounding the P2 loops 67%+/-5% of the capillaries contained ink, significantly exceeding that for P1 (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Throughout the rat renal cortex, the most proximal fraction of the peritubular capillaries surrounds the second segments of the proximal convoluted tubules, while the first tubular segments are surrounded by the more distal fraction of the peritubular capillaries. Consequently, the flows in the peritubular capillaries and in the proximal convoluted tubules in the rat renal cortex are systematically arranged as a counter-current system. This feature was previously identified only in superficial nephrons.     

An ultrastructural study of vascular proliferation and vascular alkaline phosphatase activity in the developing cerebral cortex of the rat

Alkaline phosphatase cytochemistry was employed to study the distribution of this enzyme in blood vessels during vascular differentiation and maturation during the postnatal development of the rat cerebral cortex. Enzyme reaction product was present in early vascular sprouts, and also throughout the subsequent maturation and differentiation of capillaries and arterial vessels. Cerebral capillaries appeared to be patent soon after the fusion of a sprout tip with another vessel; no evidence for delayed or synchronous opening was obtained. The distribution of alkaline phosphatase reaction product in vessel walls changed during vascular maturation. In vascular sprouts, reaction product was found mainly in the narrow lumen. As vessels became patent, reaction product appeared also on abluminal surfaces, at first chiefly in the narrow spaces between overlapping vascular cells. As vessels matured, reaction product became more generally distributed around the abluminal surface. In relatively mature capillaries and arterial vessels, it was restricted largely to endothelial cell surfaces and the spaces between smooth muscle cells. The significance of this distribution is unknown. Some possible explanations, including the possibility of artifact, are discussed. No alkaline phosphatase reaction product was found in differentiated veins.     

Altered Dynamics in the Renal Lymphatic Circulation of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetic Mice

The dynamics of the renal lymphatic circulation in diabetic nephropathy is not fully elucidated. The present study evaluated the effect of diabetic nephropathy on the renal lymphatic circulation in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic mice (ICR-STZ) and in type 2 diabetic KK/Ta mice which were fed a high fat diet (KK/Ta-HF). The diabetic mouse kidneys developed edema because of the nephropathy. In control mice renal lymphatic vessels distributed in the cortex but rarely in the medulla while in ICR-STZ and KK/Ta-HF mice, there were many lymphatic vessels with small lumen in both cortex and medulla. Total numbers and areas of renal blood vessels in the diabetic mice were similar to those in the controls while the total numbers and areas of renal lymphatic vessels were larger in diabetic mice than in the controls. There were statistically significant differences in the numbers of lymphatic vessels with diameters of 50–100 µm between the ICR-STZ and the control ICR mice, and in the numbers of lymphatic capillaries with diameters smaller than 50 µm between the KK/Ta-HF and the control KK/Ta mice. The diabetic nephropathy may induce the lymphangiogenesis or result in at least the renal lymphatic vessel expansion.     

The renal cortical lymphatic system in dogs with unimpeded lymph and urine flow

The distribution and extent of the lymphatic circulation in the renal cortex was analyzed in three dogs under conditions of unimpeded lymph and urine flow. The kidneys were drip fixed with acrolein in vivo, and cortical tissue strips were prepared for light and electron microscopic examination. Analysis of 90 tissue strips revealed 38 cortical lymphatics, one third of which were intralobular in position. The intralobular lymphatic capillaries were related primarily to tubules, afferent arterioles, or renal corpuscles. The remainder of the lymphatics were located in interlobular connective tissue areas in association with the interlobular blood vessels. Interlobular lymphatics had a surface area twice that of intralobular vessels. Stereological analysis was used to estimate the volume density of the components of the renal cortex. The volume density of lymphatics was found to be 0.0014, but because of the relative infrequency of lymphatics, this value was considered to be approximate. The volume density data for non-lymphatic renal components were found to be in close agreement with published data. From these volume density values it was concluded that the volume of cortical lymph in a functioning dog kidney is equivalent to about 1% of the volume of blood in the cortical peritubular capillaries.     

Microembolic Renal Disease in Rats Induced with Sephadex: Hypertension, Lesions and Serum Urea Nitrogen

Sephadex particles (20-80 μ in size) were injected into the abdominal aorta of 134 male Sprague-Dawley rats near the renal arteries. In 31 rats, the right kidney was then removed. The Sephadex particles lodged in glomerular capillaries, afferent glomerular arterioles and interlobular arteries, creating renal infarcts, some of which were grossly visible. Shortly after injection, arterial blood pressure rose significantly in most animals. The hypertension in uninephrectomized rats was not demonstrably different from that in rats with two Kidneys. Severity and duration of hypertension (up to 8 months) were positively correlated with the number of Sephadex particles in renal vessels, and there was also a positive correlation between the degree of hypertension and serum urea nitrogen levels, and between degree of hypertension and degree of cardiac hypertrophy. The vascular permeability in acutely hypertensive rats was abnormal, as judged from penetration of iron-dextran into vessel walls. This experimental model resembles atheromatous microembolic renovascular disease, which may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of unexplained hypertension in patients with advanced aortic atherosclerosis.     

The vascular organization of the kidney of Psammomys obesus.

Summary The vascular organization of the kidney of Psammomys obesus has been studied by injecting silicone rubber into the renal arterial and venous vessels and by standard histological techniques.Whereas the cortical vasculature is not principally different from that of other species, the medullary vessels show some unique features in the Psammomys. In the outer stripe, the vasa efferentia of juxtamedullary glomeruli give rise to primary vascular bundles which, in the transitional region between the outer and inner stripes, fuse to form secondary and, finally, giant vascular bundles.In the inner stripe exist two clearly separated vascular compartments that of the giant bundles and that of the interbundle region. The latter is supplied by arterial vasa recta originating from the upper part of the vascular bundles at the entrance to the inner stripe. In the lower portion, the separation of the two compartments is enhanced by vessel-free rims around the bundles (the rims contain descending, limbs of long loops only) and by protrusions of the renal pelvis.The inner zone is supplied exclusively by the vasa recta descending throughout the inner stripe within the vascular bundles. They splay out of the bundles at the transitions from outer to inner medulla, and descend individually as straight unbranched vessels. Many of them do not split up into capillaries before they reach the tip of the papilla.The venous drainage of the inner zone is ensured by venous vasa recta ascending individually up to the border between the inner zone and the inner stripe. They all enter the giant vascular bundles within which they traverse the inner stripe. The venous vessels draining the interbundle, region of the inner stripe do not join the bundles but ascend directly to the outer stripe. Thus, the circulations of the, outer and inner medullary zones are totally separated from each other.In the outer stripe venous vasa recta from the bundles and from the interbundle areas are mixed together. Most of them ascend high into the cortex within the medullary rays in close apposition to tubules, and empty into interlobular veins.     

Effect of Arterial Blood Pressure Reduction on Renal Hemodynamics in the Developing Lamb

Aperia , A. and P. Herin . Effect of arterial blood pressure reduction on renal hernodynamics in the developing lamb. Acta physiol. scand. 1976. 98. 387–394. The relationship between pressure and flow in the kidney has been examined in 2–9 and 31–48 day old lambs. Renal blood flow (RBF), determined by the microsphere technique, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were first studied under control conditions. The abdominal aorta was then constricted above the renal arteries until the pressure ranged between 60 and 70 mmHg, i.e. just below the normal auto-regulatory range, and the hemodynamic recordings were repeated. During control conditions the arterial pressure was lower in the younger (93 mmHg) than in the older lambs (107 mmHg). During aortic constriction total RBF and GFR were reduced. In both age groups GFR was reduced out of proportion to RBF. The sodium excretion fell around 60% in both age groups. The fall in perfusion pressure resulted in a more pronounced blood flow reduction to the outer than to the inner cortical glomerular capillaries. This pressure-induced blood flow redistribution was found in both age groups. The consequences of the pronounced effect of reducing the perfusion pressure to 60–65 mmHg for the young lambs with their basally low arterial blood pressure are discussed.     

Acute arterial fibrinoid deposition and ischaemic parenchymal damage of the kidney. Pathogenic factors in the development of malignant hypertension

The development and evolution of hypertensive vascular lesions affecting the arterial supply of (a) the kidney and (b) organs other than the kidney were studied in rats developing either malignant (MHY) or benign (BHY) hypertension 3, 6, 9 and 12 days after aortic ligation between the renal arteries. Vascular disease evolved into two distinct patterns which suggested acute renal damage to be the determinant for the development of either the malignant or benign form of hypertension. Three days after aortic ligation MHY and BHY animals showed widespread fibrinoid deposition in vascular territories above the aortic ligature. However, in MHYs these lesions were much more severe and, in the kidney, they were accompanied by the development of focal parenchymal atrophy, microinfarcts and hyalin droplet degeneration of cells of the Bowman capsule. The degree of renal damage correlated with elevations in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and plasma creatinine; however, there was no correlation with rises in blood pressure, plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone or corticosterone which were similarly elevated in 3-day MHY and 3-day BHY animals. Between 6 and 12 days a marked clearance of fibrinoid took place in all organ beds of BHYs, but in the non-renal vasculature of MHY animals fibrinoid remained prominent and served as the central core for necrotising arterial lesions. In the kidney of MHYs some reduction in the fibrinoid content was observed, but the parenchymal damage perpetuating from the earlier stages had exacerbated leading to collagen deposition and a marked increase in the collagen concentration of the renal cortex. These features were accompanied by further elevations in PRA and corticosteroids and a progressive deterioration of renal function. By contrast, in 12-day BHY animals, despite sustained hypertension, PRA and corticosteroids were falling from their previously higher levels and normal renal function was maintained. These studies warrant inference that extensive parenchymal damage of the kidney due in part to severe arterial fibrinoid deposition is one of the initial events in the development of malignant hypertension.     

The Cellular Pathology of Experimental Hypertension: VI. Alterations in Retinal Vasculature

The ultrastructure of retinal arterial vessels from rats with severe renal hypertension has been studied. The permeability of retinal vessels has also been examined by means of vascular labeling technics utilizing horseradish peroxidase and microperoxidase as tracer substances. Small retinal arteries and arterioles exhibit foci of smooth muscle necrosis characterized initially by fragmentation of medial smooth muscle cells, and subsequently by loss of myofilaments and release of free vesicles, vacuoles and other cytoplasmic organelles extracellularly. Evidence for increased permeability is observed occasionally in retinal capillaries and less frequently in arteries and arterioles. The enzymatic tracers penetrate the tight junctions of the endothelial cells and are found in the basement membranes adjacent to endothelial and smooth muscle cells, as well as in expanded extracellular spaces around the capillaries. The alterations in the ultrastructure and permeability of retinal vessels in experimental hypertension have been compared with that of visceral and cerebral cortical vessels.     

安体舒通对糖尿病大鼠血管生成素1和血管生成素2表达的影响

目的观察安体舒通对1型糖尿病大鼠肾皮质血管生成素-1(Ang-1)、血管生成素-2(Ang-2)及肾脏血管重建的影响,并初步探讨其机制。方法建立1型糖尿病大鼠模型,用安体舒通干预8周后观察大鼠肾脏血管重建改变,用放射免疫法测定大鼠血浆及肾组织醛固酮水平,用RT-PCR检测各组肾皮质Ang-1和Ang-2mRNA表达。观察安体舒通对上述指标的影响。结果与糖尿病组相比,安体舒通组大鼠肾血管重建改善,血浆及肾组织醛固酮水平更高,Ang-1和Ang-2mRNA表达减少。结论安体舒通通过拮抗醛固酮的作用,减少Ang-1和Ang-2mRNA表达,改善糖尿病肾血管重建从而发挥肾脏保护作用。     

Ultrastructure,renin status,contractile and electrophysiological properties of the afferent glomerular arteriole in the rat hydronephrotic kidney

Summary Histological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical, intravital microscopic and electrophysiological techniques have been applied to study experimental hydronephrosis in rats in order to assess its value as a preparation for the investigation of renal microcirculation and of the electrophysiological properties of the renin-containing juxtaglomerular (JG) cells of the afferent glomerular arteriole.As hydronephrosis develops, the kidney parenchyma becomes progressively thinner owing to tubular atrophy. Twelve weeks after ureteral ligature, this process results in a transparent tissue sheet of about 150–200 m in thickness. In this preparation, the renal arterial tree as well as the glomeruli can be easily visualized for intravital microscopic studies, e.g. the determination of kidney vessel diameters, or the identification of JG cells for penetration with an intracellular microelectrode. In contrast to the tubular atrophy, the vascular system is well preserved, and the JG cells and the sympathetic axon terminals are ultrastructurally intact. This is also true for the glomeruli, except for a certain confluence of the podocyte foot processes and a thickening of the basal laminae. Renin immunostaining and kidney renin content in the hydronephrotic organ correspond to those in control kidneys. In addition, there are no differences in the plasma renin levels of hydronephrotic and control rats.Intravital microscopic observations reveal that the renal vascular tree reacts in a typical, concentration dependent manner to the vasoconstrictor agent angiotensin II, mainly at the level of the resistance vessels. Electrophysiological recordings from juxtaglomerular granulated cells show a high membrane potential (–60 mV), and spontaneous depolarizing junction potentials, owing to random transmitter release from the nerve terminals. Angiotensin II, an inhibitor of renin release, depolarizes JG cells reversibly.Hence, we may infer that the hydronephrotic rat kidney is a suitable model for in vivo studies of the renal microcirculation as well as for in vitro investigations of the electrophysiological properties of the media cells of the afferent glomerular arteriole.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft within the Sonderforschungsbereich 90 Cardiovaskuläres System and within the Forschergruppe Niere/ Heidelberg