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Membrane potential of juxtaglomerular cells

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Abstract

THE juxtaglomerular granular cell of the kidney is the site of renin storage and release, and is located most commonly within the media of the afferent arteriole, often in close apposition to the distal tubule and to sympathetic nerve endings. Morphologically, it seems to be a smooth muscle cell that has been modified for secretory activity, and contains both myo-fibrils and membrane-limited renin granules1–3. Evidence has accumulated to suggest that the juxtaglomerular cell, either directly or by way of its neighbouring cells, is stimulated to release renin by catecholamines, by changes in intravascular or interstitial pressures, and by variation in local ionic concentrations4. But, even though the juxtaglomerular cell is central to all theories of renin secretion, little effort has been made to investigate its physiology at the cellular level. In this paper, a new method is described for visualising living juxtaglomerular cells, and for recording their electrical activity using intracellular microelectrodes. The results suggest that changes in the membrane potential of the juxtaglomerular cell occur with changes in renin secretion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115

    MARK C. FISHMAN

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  1. MARK C. FISHMAN
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FISHMAN, M. Membrane potential of juxtaglomerular cells. Nature 260, 542–544 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/260542a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/260542a0

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