Summary
The interior of Bowman's capsules of rat kidneys has been examined by scanning electron microscopy, and a distinctive population of cells around the exposed vascular poles of glomerular tufts were identified. The cells were situated in the annular groove at the root of the glomerulus, between the parietal epithelial cells and the podocytes. These peripolar cells were dendritic cells with long processes embracing the glomerular arterioles. Up to three peripolar cells were present at each vascular pole and they were mainly distributed in the glomeruli of the outer third of the renal cortex. This first detailed study of the surface morphology of the glomerular peripolar cell supports the suggestion that changes in the diameter of the polar region of the glomerular tuft may cause variations in stretching of the cuff of peripolar cells, and hence modulation of their secretory activity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alcorn D, Cheshire GR, Coghlan JP, Ryan GB (1984) Peripolar cell hypertrophy in the renal juxtaglomerular region of newborn sheep. Cell Tissue Res 236:197–202
Andrews PM (1975) Scanning electron microscopy of human and rhesus monkey kidneys. Lab Invest 32:610–618
Andrews PM (1979) The urinary system — kidney. In: Hodges GM, Hallowes RC (eds) Biomedical research applications of scanning electron microscopy Volume 1. Academic Press, London New York and San Francisco, pp 273–306
Barajas L (1979) Anatomy of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. Am J Physiol 237:F333-F343
Bulger RE, Siegel FL, Pendergrass R (1974) Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of the rat kidney. Am J Anat 139:483–502
Denholm R, More IAR (1980) Atypical cilia of the human endometrial epithelium. J Anat 131:309–315
Evan AP, Dail WG (1977) Efferent arterioles in the cortex of the rat kidney. Anat Rec 187:135–146
Gardiner DS, Lindop GBM (1985) The granular peripolar cell of the human glomerulus: a new component of the juxtaglomerular apparatus? Histopathology 9:675–685
Gardiner DS, More IAR, Lindop GBM (1986) The granular peripolar cell of the human glomerulus: an ultrastructural study. J Anat 146:31–43
Hanner RH, Ryan GB (1980) Ultrastructure of the renal juxtaglomerular complex and peripolar cells in the axolotl (Ambystomamexicanum) and toad (Bufo marinus). J Anat 130:445–455
Rash JE, Shay JW, Biesele JJ (1969) Cilia in cardiac differentiation. J Ultrastruct Res 29:470–484
Ryan GB, Alcorn D, Coghlan JP, Hill PA, Jacobs R (1982) Ultrastructural morphology of granule release from juxtaglomerular myoepithelioid and peripolar cells. Kidney Int 22: S3-S8
Ryan GB, Coghlan JP, Scoggins BA (1979) The granulated peripolar cell: a potential secretory component of the renal juxtaglomerular complex. Nature 277:655–656
Scherft JP, Daems WT (1967) Single cilia in chondrocytes. J Ultrastruct Res 19:546–555
Sorokin SP (1968) Reconstruction of centriole formation and ciliogenesis in mammalian lungs. J Cell Sci 3:207–230
Tachi S, Tachi C, Lindner HR (1974) Influence of ovarian hormones on the formation of solitary cilia and behaviour of the centrioles in uterine epithelial cells. Biol Reprod 10:391–403
Webber WA, Lee J (1974) The ciliary pattern of the parietal layer of Bowman's capsule. Anat Rec 180:449–455
Weinstein SW, Szyjewicz J (1978) Superficial nephron tubular-vascular relationships in the rat kidney. Am J Physiol 234:F207-F214
Wheatley DN (1967) Cilia and centrioles of the rat adrenal cortex. J Anat 101:223–237
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gibson, I.W., More, I.A.R. & Lindop, G.B.M. A scanning electron-microscopic study of the peripolar cell of the rat renal glomerulus. Cell Tissue Res. 257, 201–206 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221651
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221651