title: Destruction of lacis cells of the juxtaglomerular apparatus in the hypercholesterolemic rabbit.
abstract: During a study of experimentally induced atheromatosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits we found a heavy infiltration of the lacis cell field (G field) by lipids in the kidney. A systematic study was done in 12 rabbits receiving a dietary cholesterol supplement of 0.3% for 26 weeks and in 8 animals receiving a supplement of 2% for 8 weeks. Standard histology, immunohistochemistry for a-smooth muscle cell actin and with the macrophage specific antibody RAM 11, and transmission electron microscopy were performed. In the low cholesterol, long duration group, 90% of the G fields were involved. The lipid accumulation was mainly extracellular. The lacis cells contained moderate numbers of medium sized lipid vacuoles and showed signs of cytoplasmic damage leading to disintegration. The mesangial cells contained few dipid droplets and the matrix was normal. The arterioles were not involved. The lesion suggests an impairment of the clearance of lipids, leading to interstitial accumulation and cellular damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buyssens
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kockx
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van den Bossche
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herman
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D007606:Juxtaglomerular Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol