Summary
Scanning electron microscopy revealed 600–800 ciliated peritoneal funnels opening onto the ventral surface of each kidney in Bufo marinus. The size and configuration of funnel apertures vary greatly, but individual funnels do not appear to change their dimensions. The peritoneal funnels course beneath the kidney surface before opening into peritubular blood vessels. Injections of India ink into the peritoneal cavity demonstrate that cilia lining the peritoneal funnels create a current carrying peritoneal fluid into the renal vasculature. Clearance of fluid by the funnels was dependent on pressure in the peritubular vessels, and was increased by arginine vasotocin. Ciliated peritoneal funnels may provide an important route for return of lymphatic fluid from the peritoneal cavity to the vasculature.
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Some of the present results were presented to the Sixth Australian Conference on Electron Microscopy, 1980, and appeared in abstract form in Micron 11:419–420 (1980). The assistance of Linda Crosby, who performed the transmission electron microscopy, and Daphne Hards, who performed the light microscopy, is gratefully acknowledged. Professor G. Campbell and Dr. I. Gibbins are thanked for their comments on the manuscript
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Morris, J.L. Structure and function of ciliated peritoneal funnels in the toad kidney (Bufo marinus). Cell Tissue Res. 217, 599–610 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219367
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219367