THE GRANULATION OF JUXTAGLOMERULAR CELLS IN RENAL HYPERTENSION, DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE AND POST-DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE HYPERTENSION, ADRENAL REGENERATION HYPERTENSION, AND ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY12

Abstract

The juxtaglomerular index, which indicates the degree of granulation of cells in the juxtaglomerular apparatus, averages 35 in normal Wistar rats. When hypertension is produced by partially constricting 1. renal artery, the juxtaglomerular granules double in the ischemic kidney and virtually disappear in the "untouched" contralateral kidney. If the ischemic kidney is then excised 7 weeks later, the hypertension disappears and juxtaglomerular granules reappear in normal abundance in the previously degranulated contralateral kidney. After partial constriction of 1 renal artery, the juxtaglomerular granules in the opposite kidney disappear; but if a constriction is then placed on the artery of this degranulated contralateral kidney, the juxtaglomerular granules reappear. Another group of rats with 1 ischemic kidney and a contralateral degranulated kidney was placed on a Na-deficient diet. In half the rats, this diet caused the juxtaglomerular granules to reappear in the previously degranulated kidney, and increased granulation in normal rats. Partially constricting the renal artery in a rat with only 1 kidney will produce hypertension, and the granulation of the lone ischemic kidney remains slightly above normal. Adrenalectomy doubles the juxtaglomerular index; desoxycorticosterone and salt cause the granules to disappear while concomitantly producing hypertension. Some rats that have received desoxycorticosterone pellets remained hypertensive long after all pellets had been absorbed. The mean juxtaglomerular index for this group was 7, compared to a value of 25 in a similarly treated group that had become normotensive following the absorption of the desoxycorticosterone pellets. The hypertensive group with adrenal regeneration following enucleation had a juxtaglomerular index of 7, while the control group with intact adrenals had an index of 20.