Glomerular Vessels of the Rat Kidney with Special Reference to Double Efferent Arterioles

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Abstract
Corrosion casts of the blood vascular beds of the rat kidney were prepared with methacrylic methyl ester resin. The casts of the individual glomeruli were isolated and coated with carbon and gold to be observed under the scanning electron microscope.1. True double efferent arterioles arising separately from the glomerulus were encountered in 11 out of the 1, 200 glomeruli examined. They were independent vessels formed separately by the capillaries of different glomerular lobules.2. In 55 out of the 1, 200 glomeruli, the normal efferent arteriole arising singly from the glomerulus showed precocious branching at the hilum of the glomerulus. This type of vessel perhaps was described erroneously as two efferent arterioles in previous light microscope studies.3. Constrictions were often found in the juxtaglomerular segment of the afferent arteriole and rarely in the efferent arteriole. This suggests the occurrence of a sphincter at these sites.4. A preliminary description of the glomerular casts in juvenile rats was made. Occasional duplication of efferent arterioles was found in 8-day-old rats.5. Microdissection of the isolated glomerular casts softened by alcohol enabled the observation of glomerular lobules and their capillary connections. For this purpose the use of resin not containing plasticizer was recommended.

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