Shunting in renal microvasculature of the rat: A scanning electron microscopic study of corrosion casts

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The still controversial existence of arterial pathways by-passing glomeruli within kidneys of rats from weaning to > 12 mo. old (i.e., body wt ranging from 39-643 g) was investigated. The arterial injection of microspheres 7.5-17 .mu.m in diameter was combined to corrosion-replication of the arterial bed of a vasodilated perfused kidney preparation. This procedure allowed easy detection of arterial by-passes with light microscope and detailed observation with scanning electron microscope. The existence of various categories of arterial by-passes throughout renal cortex regardless of age were demonstrated. Some of them had never been described before. These vascular by-passes were found with increased frequency from superficial to juxtamedullary cortex. In the latter area, frequency was not age-dependent. Approximately 10% (range 4-22%) of juxtamedullary glomeruli were involved. These structures apparently are (partially) nonfunctioning in basal physiological conditions, but more information is needed to assess their possible functional role in the rat.