ANATOMICAL AND STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF 2 DE SERT RODENT KIDNEYS - GERBILLUS GERBILLUS AND PSAMMOMYS-OBESUS

Anatomical and structural studies of kidneys from Gerbillus gerbillus show that the papilla is long and narrow, the medulla is of a complex type and the epithelium of the descending thin limb of long loops is p articularly developed. All these characteristics correspond to a kidne y able to produce a small quantity of highly concentrated urine. Psamm omys obesus has a relatively large kidney; the glomerular density is h igh, the renal medulla is of a complex type. The particular nature of the ultrastructures of the epithelium of the descending thin limb of t he long loops and of the thick ascending limb indicate intense exchang es. All these are characteristic of the production of a high volume of concentrated urine.