Iw. Gibson et al., A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE GLOMERULAR PERIPOLAR CELL AND THE RENIN-SECRETING CELL IN 12 MAMMALIAN-SPECIES, Cell and tissue research, 277(2), 1994, pp. 385-390
The peripolar cell is a glomerular epithelial cell situated within Bow
man's capsule at its vascular pole. It is believed to be a secretory c
ell which forms part of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. Scanning electr
on microscopy was used to perform a comparative study of the morpholog
y and number of peripolar cells in twelve mammalian species. The numbe
r of renin-secreting cells in kidney sections stained by renin antibod
ies and immunocytochemistry was counted. There was a marked inter-spec
ies variation in the number, size and appearance of peripolar cells. T
hey were largest and most abundant in sheep and goat and fewest in dog
, cow and human. There was no correlation between the numbers of perip
olar cells and renin-secreting cells. This does not support the view t
hat the peripolar cell is part of the juxtaglomerular apparatus.