Findings

At this magnification, a renal corpuscle surrounded by proximal and distal convoluted tubules is clearly shown. Note the glomerulus within the space contained by Bowman's capsule. At the vascular pole of the renal corpuscle, a portion of the juxtaglomerular apparatus can be seen. Note the closely packed nuclei of the macula densa in the distal convoluted tubule in contact with a cluster of juxtaglomerular cells.

Comment

Although each renal corpuscle has a juxtaglomerular apparatus, not all are necessarily seen in one plane of section. For example in this image only a portion of the wall of the afferent arteriole containing the juxtaglomerular cells is evident.

Preparation

Paraffin section; Masson's trichrome

View

Medium-power light microscopy

Specimen

Juxtaglomerular apparatus

Image Credit

V. Eroschenko, Ph.D.
Department of Biological Sciences
WAMI Medical Program
University of Idaho