Summary
The luminal aspect of intrarenal arteries and veins in the rat has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The endothelium of the intrarenal arteries consists of spindle-shaped cells and forms longitudinally running ridges which correlate with the folding pattern of the underlying internal elastic lamina. Intraarterial “cushions” were found at the origins of afferent arterioles from accuate arteries and along the entire course of interlobular arteries. The intrarenal veins are made up of a thin, extensively fenestrated epithelium equal to that of peritubular capillaries. The outer aspect of the endothelium contacts adjacent tubules as closely as the capillaries proper. Thereby, the luminal aspect of the veins exhibits a striking “tubule relief” created by the underlying tubules. This wall structure of the intrarenal veins suggest that diameter and shape of the veins are probably highly dependent on the surrounding interstitial pressure.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albert EN, Nayak RK (1976) Surface morphology of human aorta as revealed by the scanning electron microscope. Anat Rec 185:223–233
Aukland K (1976) Renal blood flow. In: Thurau K (ed) Kidney and urinary tract physiology II, vol 11. University Park Press, Baltimore London Tokyo, pp 23–79
Bannister CM, Mundy LA, Mundy JE (1975) A scanning electron microscopy study of the endothelial folds in normal and anastomosed common carotid arteries in albino rats. Br J Exp Pathol 56:329–337
Casellas D, Dupont M, Jover B, Mimran A (1982) Scanning electron microscopic study of arterial cushions in rats: a novel application of the corrosion-replication technique. Anat Rec 203:419–428
Dieterich HJ (1978) Die Struktur der Blutgefäße in der Rattenniere. Norm Pathol Anat 35:1–127
Fourman J, Moffat DB (1961) The effect of intraarterial cushions on plasma skimming in small arterioles. J Physiol 158:374–380
Fourman J, Moffat DB (1971) The blood vessels of the kidney. Blackwell, Oxford
Garbarsch C, Tranum-Jensen J, van Deurs B (1982) Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of the normal rabbit aortic endothelium after controlled perfusion fixation. Acta Anat 112:79–91
Gorgas K, Böck P (1975) Studies on intra-arterial cushions: I. Morphology of the cushions at the origins of intercostal arteries in mice. Anat Embryol 148:59–72
Hollweg HG, Buss H (1980) Problems with the preparation of blood vessels for scanning electron microscopy. A criticial review. Scanning 3:3–14
Jacobsen NO, Jorgensen F, Thomsen AC (1966) An electron microscopic study of small arteries and arterioles in the normal human kidney. Nephron 3:17–39
Jones WR, O'Morchoe CCC (1983) Ultrastructural evidence for a reabsorptive role by intrarenal veins. Anat Rec 207:253–262
Källskog Ö, Lindblohm LO, Ulfendahl HR, Wolgast M (1976) Hydrostatic pressures within the vascular structures of the rat kidney. Pflügers Arch 363:205–210
Kaissling B, Kriz W (1979) Structural analysis of the rabbit kidney. Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol 56:1–123
Katora ME, Hollis TM (1976) Regional variation in the rat aortic endothelial surface morphology: Relationship to regional aortic permeability. Exp Molec Pathol 24:23–34
Kriz W (1987) A periarterial pathway for intrarenal distribution of renin. Kidney Int [Suppl 20] 31:51–56
Kriz W, Dieterich HJ (1970) The supplying and draining vessels of the renal medulla in mammals. Light and electron microscopic observations. In: Proc 4th Int Congr Nephrol Stockholm 1969, vol. 1. Karger, Basel München New York, pp 138–144
Lee MML, Chien S (1979) Morphologic effects of pressure changes on canine carotid artery endothelium as observed by scanning electron microscopy. Anat Rec 194:1–14
Möllendorf W v (1930) Der Exkretionsapparat. Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen, Bd. VII/1. von Möllendorf W, Bargmann W (Hrsg) Springer, Berlin
Moffat DB (1959) An intra-arterial regulating mechanism in the uterine artery of the rat. Anat Rec 134:107–123
Moffat DB (1969a) Intra-arterial cushions in the arteries of the rats eye. Acta Anat 72:1–11
Moffat DB (1969b) Extravascular protein in the renal medulla. Quart J Exp Physiol 54:60–67
Moffat DB, Creasey M (1971) The fine structure of the intraarterial cushions at the origins of the juxtamedullary afferent arterioles in the rat kidney. J Anat (Lond) 110:409–419
Permutt S, Riley RL (1963) Hemodynamics of collapsible vessels with tone: the vascular waterfall. J Apll Physiol 18:924–932
Shanklin WM, Azzam NA (1963a) On the presence of valves in the rat cerebral arteries. Anat Rec 146:145–147
Shanklin WM, Azzam NA (1963b) A study of valves in the arteries of rodent brain. Anat Rec 147:407–413
Steinhausen M, Kücherer H, Parekh N, Snoei H (1986) Microcirculation in glomerular network: implication of hemodynamic factors in effect of angiotensin II on glomerular function. In: Popel, Johnson (eds) Microvascular networks: experimental and theoretical studies. Symposium Tucson, Arizona 1985. Karger, Basel, pp 134–141
Swann HG, Norman RJ (1970) The periarterial spaces of the kidney. Texas Rep Biol Med 28:317–334
Taggart NE, Rapp JP (1969) The distribution of valves in the rat kidney arteries. Anat Rec 165:37–40
Tindall AR, Svensen E (1982) Intimal folds of the rabbit aorta. Acta Anat 113:169–177
Velican C, Velican D (1977) Studies of human coronary arteries. Acta Anat 99:377–385
Willassen Y, Ofstadt J (1979) Intrarenal venous and cortical catheter pressures in the dog kidney. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 39:697–705
Yohro T, Burnstock G (1973) Fine structure of “intimal cushions” at branching sites in coronary arteries of vertebrates. Z Anat Entwickl Gesch 140:187–202
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Frank, M., Kriz, W. The luminal aspect of intrarenal arteries and veins in the rat as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. Anat Embryol 177, 371–376 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315846
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315846