Occurrence of Special Cell Groups at Vascular Pole of Glomerulus in Mammalian Kidneys

During the past year we have studied the juxtaglomerular corpuscles of Goormaghtigh 1-4 in normal and diseased human kidneys removed surgically and at autopsy. This material amounts at the present time to about 200 unselected cases. While similar structures were noted previously by others in laboratory animals, 5 other mammals 6 and selected human cases, 7 , 1 this is the first attempt to demonstrate agglomerations of peculiar cells or cell groups around the afferent arteriole of the glomerulus in routine autopsy and surgical material, stained by special as well as routine methods.

These corpuscles are composed of agglomerations of cells, which are situated chiefly at the vascular pole of the glomerulus between the macula densa 6 of the distal convoluted tubule and the afferent arteriole. A thin layer of these cells may also surround the entire vessel. Occasionally the cells extend along the first part of the arteriole as it enters the glomerular tuft. They usually occur outside the media, surrounding it like a sheath, but they may appear to compose the entire arteriolar wall. We have not observed the corpuscles in kidneys of stillborn infants or children up to 2 years of age. In certain diseased kidneys, as of arteriolar nephrosclerosis, benign, or malignant, they may be hypertrophied and thus appear more conspicuous.

The cells which make up the corpuscles can be identified by their morphological characteristics as well as by their staining reactions. They are rather large, polygonal cells with indistinct cell outlines. They are frequently closely packed and delicate argyrophilic fibrils can often be detected between them. Masson's trichrome stain brings out peculiar, fine, fuchsinophilic granules in the cytoplasm, which is otherwise clear, but vacuolated.