Abstract
Interruption in renal blood circulation causes the abnormal excretion of water, electrolytes and nitrogen compounds and exerts an influence on the fluid balance. On the other hand, products which are obtained as a result of the abnormality of the enzyme system in the kidney are emigrated into the blood, with the result thana blood pressure and other factors are affected. The interruption in renal blood circulation is due to the production of organic lesions in the vascular system of the kidney, while renal blood circulation is controlled by the nerves in the kidney. There are still many obscure points regarding the relation between the abnormality of renal function and changes in the minute structure of the kidney. The present study was carried out for the purpose of clarifying the relation. Experimental Methods: Mature dogs were used and divided into two groups: group I where the renal nerves were removed and group II in which the renal artery was narrowed. Changes in the minute structure of the kidney were studied electron microscopically in relation with renal function. Results and Discussion: Observation on morphological changes in the cells of the renal tubule following the removal of the nerves from the kidney was made with the following results: 1) The nerve supply of the kidney did not cover the whole nephron but was confined to the proximal tubuls alone. Henle's looped tubes and the distal tubulus were not influenced directly. 2) Concerning the mechanism responsible for diuresis occurring immediately after the removal of the nerves from the kidney, the dehydration of the cells of the proximal tubulus which was seen when the dogs were loaded with sucrose and protein did not follow morphologically; the said diuresis was different from diuresis due to osmotic pressure. 3) Following the removal of the nerves from the kidney, there was an increase in the endoplasmic reticulum and Palade's granules and the degeneration of mitochondria at the early stage of unnerving. Furthermore, the degeneration occurred partially in the cells of the renal tubule and gradually spread all over the cells. 4) Henle's looped tubes and the proximal tubulus underwent almost no morphological changes even days after the removal of the nerves. The following results occurred after the experimental interruption in renal blood circulation: 1) Changes in the cells of the renal tubule took place before those in Henle's looped tubles and other ogans, and these were great, 2) At the early stage of unnerving the proximal tubulus showed an increase in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. A transition from the lateral nuclear membrane to the endoplasmic reticulum was clearly seen, but with the further progress of changes mitochondria decreased, and the degeneration of the nucleus and the sloughing of the cells occurred. 3) In this case mitochondria underwent changes which were classified as types III and IV. 4) Changes in mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum in Henle's looped tubules and the distal tubulus were not so remarkable as those in the proximal tubulus.
