Comparative morphology of juxtaglomerular cells. II. The presence of juxtaglomerular cells in embryos

Abstract

Earlier work failed to establish the presence of juxtaglomerular cells (JG-cells) in the kidney of the hog embryo, although renin was found in both the embryonic metanephros and mesonephros. By the use of the fluorescent-antibody technique and the Bowie stain, mature granulated JG-cells were found in both instances. These cells possessed the same anatomical relationships as the JG-cells in the adult hog. These findings offer further evidence for the presence of renin in juxtaglomerular cells. JG-cells were also identified in the embryonic metanephros of the rat.

Mesonephric excretory function related to its influence on differentiation of fetal gonads

“…The composition of the excretion is hypotonic, owing to low sodium and chloride content, but has a high content of urea and potassium (Davies and Routh, 1957). Morphological evidence of an endocrine function of the mesonephros, like the secretion of renin from the juxtaglomerular complex of the metanephros, has been found only in pig and rat (Kaplan and Friedman, 1942;Sutherland and Hartroft, 1968), but not in man (De Martino and Zamboni, 1966;Cotrutz et al, 1971;Koga, 19721, cat or sheep (Tiedemann, 1976).…”