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(Hypertension. 1998;31:440.)
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.

Scientific Contributions

Three-Dimensional Microcomputed Tomography of Renal Vasculature in Rats

Agustin Garcia-Sanz; Alicia Rodriguez-Barbero; Michael D. Bentley; Erik L. Ritman; J. Carlos Romero

From the Department of Physiology and Biophysics (A.G-S., A.R-B., E.L.R., T.C.R.) Mayo School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn and the Department of Biological Sciences (M.D.B.), Mankato State University, Mankato, Minn.

Reprint requests to J. Carlos Romero, M.D., Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905. E-mail: romero.juan{at}mayo.edu

Current microscopic methods to view renal microvasculature reveal only a very limited portion of the total renal volume. Identification of connectivity for postglomerular vessels in the cortex and the medulla during functional states related to changes in sodium excretion will help better to understand the coupling of renal vasculature to tubular function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of visualizing the continuity of pre- and postglomerular vasculature using three-dimensional micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Kidneys from normal rats were perfusion fixed in situ at physiological pressure, filled with latex microfil containing lead chromate, and embedded in plastic. The micro-CT scans of the intact kidneys were carried out on a rotating stage illuminated either by a synchrotron x-ray source or a conventional x-ray spectroscopy tube. Images were reconstructed by a filtered backprojection algorithm and volume-rendering techniques were utilized to display the vasculature. The reconstructed images clearly showed the large distribution vessels and the venous drainage of the kidneys, while pre- and postglomerular vessels and their vascular connections throughout the kidney were displayed in great detail. Efferent arterioles showed the characteristics of their peritubular capillary beds in the cortical and medullary regions. The vascular volume of the cortex was 27%, the outer stripe of the outer medulla 18%, the inner stripe of the outer medulla 30%, and the inner medulla 18%. In conclusion, micro-CT is a promising method to evaluate renal vascular architecture relative to physiological and pathological alterations.

Key Words: capillaries • imaging • kidney • microcirculation • tomography • vasculature

Abbreviations: AA = arcuate artery • AF = afferent arteriole • AV = arcuate vein • CCD = charge-coupled device • Cort = cortex • EF = efferent arteriole • G = glomeruli • MAP = mean arterial pressure • micro-CT = micro-computed tomography • IL = interlobar vessels • IM = inner medulla • ISOM = inner stripe of outer medulla • OSOM = outer stripe of outer medulla • RA = cortical radial artery • RV = cortical radial vein • VR = vasa recta

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