Observation was made on the localization of adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) in the kidney cortex and on its changes following the functioning of the tubule in an attempt to study the activity of ATPase in the proximal tubule. After the rabbits were loaded with glucose, phlorizin and egg-albumin and were subjected to biopsy, they were killed by cervical bleeding and the kidney cortex was removed. The electron microscopic material was treated by the method of Essnner et al. and the microscopic material by a modification of Gomori's method. On the other hand, the cortex homogenate was submitted to cell fractionation according to the method of Schneider-Hogeboom et al. Measurement of ATPase in each fraction was made by means of a partial modification of Iwasa et al. 1. ATPase in the kidney cortex of both the control group and the loaded group showed a strong activity in the cell membrane which was composed chiefly of the brush border of the proximal tubule. Besides the fact that a strong ATPase activity was observed in the blood vessel, the activity was generally weak in other regions. No activity of ATPase in the cell fraction agreed with the findings of histochemical staining; the microsome fraction exhibited the strongest ATPase activity. ATPase activity was present in the sedimentary fraction but was hardly recognized in the supernatant. ATPase can be interpreted as combining with components in the cell. 2. Both histochemical staining and cell fraction determination revealed no apparent change in the activity of ATPase in the rabbits which were loaded with glucose and phlorizin. In the light of this fact, it was presumed that ATPase was not related directly to the reabsorption of glucose. 3. Histological changes in the proximal tubule following the loading of the rabbits with eggalbumin were the hyperf unction of reabsorption or athrocytosis. From the increased activity of ATPase in the region it was inferred that ATPase takes part directly or indirectly in the reabsorption of egg-albumin by the cell membrane. An increase in the activity of ATPase in the mitochondria fraction, a histological increase and change in the number of the fraction led the author to presume that mitochondria indirectly perform some function when egg-albumin is reabsorbed

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The renal functions and the pathological changes in the biopsy meterial of 14 patients with acute glomerulonephritis were observed up to 2-6 months. The clinical finding was compared with urine protein, urine sediment, blood pressure and the pathological finding of the biopsy material, whereas the precise renal function (Fishberg's test, PSP-test, BUN, R.F.F., G.F.R.) was checked. There were two types of the glomerular lesion; one of them was a group who had the pathological changes in the glomerular capillaries and the other group had the changes in the Bowmann's capsule, tubules and interstitium in addition to the capillary lesion of the first group. No one showed hyalinisation and fibrinization. 1) Majority of the cases of which urine protein became positive at the 1st month following the onset of the disease belonged to the second group. 2) Majority of the cases of which blood pressure were beyond 150mmHg (systolic) or 90mmHg (diastolic) belonged to the second group. 3) No particular correlations between Fishberg's test, PSPtest and the pathological changes were found. 4) Majority of the cases of which GFR and FF were low belonged to the second group. 5) Some of the biopsy material showed the pathological change in the epithel of the Bowmann's capsule at the early stage of the disease.

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Blood pressure, funduscopic, electrocardiographic and urinary investigation were performed on 13 patients with essential hypertension. Their renal functions were examined by determinin GFR, RPFand PSP, and histological findings were obtained biopsy. by means of And the results were studied with the following conclusions: A) Significant correlation between systolic blood pressure and hypertensive alteration in the retina of the fundus oculi were observed. B) There was close relation betweenn blood pressure and RPF, and correlation between diastolic blood pressure and RPF (γ=-0.51). C) Relation was observed between the hypertensive alteration in the fundus oculi and RPFW D) In many cases, elevated blood pressure, systolic and diastolic, tended to aggravate renal vascular disorder. E) There was also tendency that with the progress of the hypertensive alteration in the fundus oculi, renal vascular disorder became aggravated. F) Relation could not be observed between functional and histological findings of the kidney. G) It was recognized through bioptic examination that in essential hypertension, renal vase cular disorder preceded other renal lesions.

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As experimental animals, 35 normal dogs were used and were loaded under variable conditions. Blood was withdrawn from the vein of the left adrenal gland every hour up to 2 or 3 hours and measurement was made on adrenal blood flow, aldosterone, compound F, compound E and 17-OHCS. Especially, an attempt was undertaken to identify factors affecting the regulation of aldosterone secretion from changes in aldosterone under these conditions. The results were as follows: 1. In cases in which 5 units of ACTH was injected by i. u. infusion, there was a slight increase in adrenal blood flow. No increase in aldosterone secretion occurred. A slight increase deveoped in comound F, compound E and 17-OHCS. 2. Similar results were obtained from cases to which 20 units of ACTH was given by drop infusion. 3. In cases into which Prednisolone was injected intravenously 0.2 mg/kg of body weight, adrenal blood flow underwent no marked changes. Aldosterone secretion was not inhibited. Nor were any significant changes noticed in compound F, compound E and 17-OHCS. 4. In cases to which a 5% NaC1 solution was given by drop infusion, there were no marked changes in adrenal blood flow. Aldosterone secretion showed a slight decrease. No significant changes were perceived in compound F, compound E and 17-OHCS. 5. In cases to which a 3% KCl solution was given by drop infusion, no remarkable changes were caused in adrenal blood flow. In one case aldosterone levels remained unchanged. One case showed an insignificant incease in aldosterone levels. Compound F and 17-OHCS showed an increase to a small extent, while compound E underwent no striking changes. 6. In cases in which blood transfusion was made, there was a slight increase in adrenal blood flow. Aldosterone secretion decreased slightly; no significant changes were seen in compound F, compound E and 17-OHCS. 7. In venesected cases, there was an insignificant decrease in adrenal blood flow, while aldosterone secretion showed a striking increase. No considerable changes were seen in compound F, compound E and 17-OHCS, 8. In cases where the common and the internal carotid artery were ligated, adrenal blood flow underwent no pronounced changes. Aldosterone secretion exhibited a significant increase, whereas compound F and 17-OHCS showed an inconsiderable increase. No outstanding changes occurred in compound E. 9. In cases whose internal carotid veins on both sides were ligated, there were no cons-picuous changes in aldosterone secretion, compound F, compound E and 17-OHCS. 10. In cases which were subjected to splanchnicotomy, adrenal blood flow underwent no marked changes. Aldosterone secretion showed a decrease. In one of the cases, compound F and 17-OHCS remained unchanged; and 2 showed an increase in compound F and 17-OHCS after aa decrease. No considerable changes were perceived in compound E. 11. Adrenal blood flow underwent no remarkable changes in one of cases to which 20 mg of Amphenone per kg of body weight was given by intravenous injection. Two cases had a decrea-sing tendency of adrenal blood flow. Aldosterone, compound F, compound E and 17-OHCS was remarkable inhibited. 12. In cases to which 40 mg of Spironolactone (SC 9420) was given intravenously, there wase striking effect in neither adrenal blood flow nor aldosterone secretion. There was an insignificant increase in compound F and 17-OHCS. No striking changes were noticed in compound F and 1.7-OHCS. No striking chahges were noticed in compound E. 13. No pronounced changes in adrenal blood flow were seen in cases which received 10 mg of Chlorothiazide per kg of body weight intravenously. In one cases aldosterone secretion remained unchanged; and 2 showed a decreasing tendency of the secretion. A slight increase in compound F and 17-OHCS was produced; no considerable changes were noted in compound E.

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Renal function, mechanism of edema formation in cancerous cachectic condition is not fully established. The following results of various tests were obtained from 44 patients in cachectic stage or precachectic condition hospitalized during April 1957 to June 1960 in our medical clinic. 1. The most pronounced serum changes were low albumin value, extreme reduction in A/G r ratio, slight elevation of NPN and low values of Na and Cl. However both Na and C1 were found to have a reversed correlation to NPN value. 2. In kidney function tests GFR, RPF, TmPAH and Tmo all showed reduced values but percentage decerease of RPF was greater than that of GFR. The TmPAH and TmG values were relatively well sustained compared with the low values of PSP test. 3. Histopathologically ischemia and fibrosis were seen in the glomeruli and the distal tubules rather than the proximal tubules showed stronger changes of atrophy, flattening and desquamation of epithelial cells. In the adrenal glands the granular layer atrophy was generally seen. In animal experiments of mice with Ehrlich inplanted cancer ascites, the kidney tissue showed comparable changes in their cachectic stages. The characteristic biochemical changes seen in cachexia is believed to be due chiefly to the combined loss of salts and water but additional factors of kidney tubule degeneration and adrenal atrophy together with increased destruction of body protein is also believed to have strong influence on this condition. The following standards were presented for diagnosis of cancerous cachectic state. 1) Extreme emaciation 2) Pronounced reduction of serum albumin (below 2.2g/dl) and A/G ratio below 0.5) 3) Slight or marked edema formation 4) Slight rise of NPN and reduction of serum Na and Cl. 5) Reduction of hemoglobin values. (below Sahli 70%) 6) Reduction of circulating plasma volume.

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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.

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