Ultrastructural and morphometric examination of renomedullary interstitial cells and their lipid granules treated with a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor

Experiments points out that renomedullary interstitial cells (RIC) are responsible for antihypertensive function of kidney medulla, but functional roles of lipid granules (LG) of the cell in prostaglandin and renomedullary hormone synthesis are still being discussed. We searched, the relationship in between LG and PGE2 synthesis capacity of RIC in rats induced with a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor (indomethacin). Three months old 6 Wis-tar rats used in control and experiment groups. Daily doses of 5 mg/kg indomethacin introduced orally to rats in experiment group for 12 days. PGE2 levels were determined in blood samples obtained from left renal vein (Tab.1). Electron microscopic specimens prepared from inner medulla of right kidneys. We caunted LG in 100 RIC of each rat (Tab.1). Frequency of LG groups in control and experiment groups are shown in (Tab.2).Observations in experiment group; increased cytoplasmic matrix density, mitochondrial swelling, both enlargement of GER and perinuclear cisterna, decreased number of vesicles and nuclei rich in heterochromatin (Fig:2,3,4), points out a declined synthesis and secretion activity of RIC.