Summary
Continuing and supplementing previous morphometric studies on the Juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) of normal kidneys we have now investigated semi-thin serial sections of each 10 hyperplastic and hypertrophied JGAs in Addison's disease and in Bartter's syndrome, as well as 8 atrophic JGAs in Conn's syndrome. With the exception of Bartter's syndrome, where in only two out of ten JGAs the efferent arteriole, and in none of them the afferent arteriole touches immediately the macula densa, there is an almost regular direct contact between the hilar arterioles and the macula densa like in normal kidneys. The Goormaghtigh cell field invariably touches the macula densa. In Bartter's syndrome, but not in Addison's disease, a considerable enlargement of the macula densa was measured, associated with an exceptional enlargement of the Goormaghtigh cell field. In all cases examined here about 40–60% of the basal area of the macula densa do not have any direct contact with other structures forming the JGA.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander, F.: The juxtaglomerular apparatus in Addison's disease. J. Path. Bact. 96, 27–32 (1968)
Barajas, L., Latta, H.: The juxtaglomerular apparatus in adrenalectomized rats. Light and electron microscopic observations. Lab. Invest. 12, 1046–1059 (1963)
Bartter, F. C., Pronove, P., Gill, J. R., MacCardle, R. C.: Hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular complex with hyperaldosteronism and hypokalemic alkalosis. Amer. J. Med. 33, 811–828 (1962)
Bohle, A.: Kritischer Beitrag zur Morphologie einer endokrinen Nierenfunktion und deren Bedeutung für den Hochdruck. Arch. Kreisl.-Forsch. 20, 193 (1954)
Bohle, A., Helber, A., Meyer, D., Schürholz, J., Wolff, H. P.: A light and electron microscopic investigation of the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidneys of patients with Conn's syndrome. V. Symp. Ges. Nephr. Lausanne 1967. In: Peters, G. and Roch-Ramel, F. (Eds.), Progress in nephrology, p. 302. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1969
Bohle, A., Meyer, D., Helmchen, U.: Neue Gesichtspunkte zur Morphologie des Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosteron-Systems. Med. Welt 21, 1631–1650 (1970)
Brackett, N. C., Koppel, M., Randall, R. E., Nixon, W. P.: Hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular complex with secondary aldosteronism without hypertension (Bartter's syndrome). Amer. J. Med. 44, 803–819 (1968)
Bryan, G. T., MacCardle, R. C., Bartter, F. C.: Hyperaldosteronism, hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular complex, normal blood pressure, and dwarfism: report of a case. Pediatrics 37, 43–50 (1966)
Christensen, J. A.: Quantitative Analyse dreidimensional rekonstruierter juxtaglomerulärer Apparate normaler menschlicher Nieren. Inaugural-Dissertation Tübingen 1974
Christensen, J. A., Meyer, D. S., Bohle, A.: The structure of the human juxtaglomerular apparatus. Virchows Arch. Abt. A 367, 83–92 (1975)
Cohen, R. J., Severance, R. C., Whiting, E. G., Lundberg, G. D.: A study of the juxtaglomerular body in primary aldosteronism. Ann. intern. Med. 62, 569–576 (1965)
Conn, J. W., Rovner, D. R., Cohen, E. L.: Normal and altered function of the renin-angiotensin-aldosteron system in man. Applications in clinical and research medicine. Ann. intern. Med. 63, 266 (1965)
Dunihue, F. W.: The juxtaglomerular apparatus in experimental hypotension. Amer. J. Path. 23, 906–907 (1947)
Goodman, D., Vagnucci, A. H., Hartroft, Ph. M.: Pathogenesis of Bartter's syndrome. New Engl. J. Med. 281, 1435–1439 (1969)
Goormaghtigh, N.: L'appareil neuro-myoarteriel juxtaglomerulaire du rein; ses reactions en pathologie et ses raports avec le tube urinifere. C.R. Soc. Biol. (Paris) 124, 293 (1937)
Helber, A., Meyer, D., Schürholz, J., Bohle, A.: Zur Struktur und Funktion des juxtaglomerulären Apparates. Dtsch. med. Wschr. 95, 2280–2287 (1970)
Meyer, D.: Morphometrische Untersuchungen am juxtaglomerulären Apparat menschlicher Nieren. Veröffentl. aus der Morphologischen Pathologie. Heft 90. Stuttgart: Gustav Fischer 1972
Ramanathan, K., Gantt, C., Grossman, Aa.: Six year follow-up of a child with Bartter syndrome. Amer. J. Dis. Child. 126, 230–235 (1973)
Schmidt, P., Kopsa, H., Kronenberg, K. H., Meyer, D., Zazgornik, J., Kotzaurek, R., Neumann, E.: Bartter-Syndrom im Erwachsenenalter. Dtsch. med. Wschr. 98, 723–726 (1973)
Sutherland, L., Hartroft, Ph., Balis, J. K., Baily, J. D., Lynch, M. J.: Bartter's syndrome. Acta paediat. scand., Suppl. 201, 1–24 (1970)
Thurau, K. W. C., Dahlheim, H., Grüner, A., Mason, J., Granger, P.: Activation of renin in the single juxtaglomerular apparatus by sodium chloride in the tubular fluid at the macula densa. Circulat. Res. 30/31, Suppl. II, 182–201 (1972)
Thurau, K., Schnermann, J.: Die Natriumkonzentration an den Macula. densa-Zellen als regulierender Faktor für das Glomerulumfiltrat. Klin. Wschr. 43, 410–413 (1965)
Tobian, L.: Interrelationship of electrolytes, juxtaglomerular cells and hypertension. Physiol. Rev. 40, 280–312 (1960)
Tobian, L.: Renin release and its role in renal function and the control of salt balance and arterial pressure. Fed. Proc. 26, 48–54 (1967)
Wegmann, W.: Der juxtaglomeruläre Apparat der Niere bei primärem und sekundärem Hyperaldosteronismus. Virchows Arch. Abt. A 349, 21 (1970)
Zimmermann, K.W.: Über den Bau des Glomerulus der Säugerniere. Z. mikr.-anat. Forsch. 32, 176 (1933)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
We thank the colleagues of the Institute of Medical Biometry, University of Tübingen, (head: Prof. Dr. M.-P. Geppert) for making all statistical analyses.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Christensen, J.A., Bader, H., Bohle, A. et al. The structure of the juxtaglomerular apparatus in Addison's disease, Bartter's syndrome, and in Conn's syndrome. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 370, 103–112 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00430807
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00430807