A coupled morphological and biochemical study on the cellular localisation of the intra-adrenal renin granules in rats.
The effects of prolonged (3-week) sodium restriction on the rat zona glomerulosa (ZG) were investigated by ultrastructural stereological and biochemical techniques. The plasma level of aldosterone was increased, and this was coupled with a notable decrease in the volume density (Vv, microns 3/100 microns 3 of cell) of lipid droplets in ZG cells. Renin-like activity (RLA) underwent a significant rise in ZG, and Vv of dense bodies significantly rose in ZG cells. Since RLA and dense-body Vv displayed a highly significant linear correlation (r = 0.884; n = 22, P less than 0.01), the hypothesis is advanced that part of the dense bodies may be granules of prorenin or renin, and that ZG parenchymal cells are directly involved in the intra-adrenal renin production.
Rebuffat
P
P
Department of Anatomy, University of Padua, Italy.
Malendowicz
L K
LK
Kasprzak
A
A
Mazzocchi
G
G
Gottardo
G
G
Nussdorfer
G G
GG
D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012083:Renin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D015384:Zona Glomerulosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000450:Aldosterone; D012964:Sodium; D012083:Renin; D003345:Corticosterone