Hyperplasia of juxtaglomerular cells and renin localization in kidney of normotensive animals given captopril. Electron microscopic and immunohistochemical studies
Zaki, F.G.; Keim, G.R.; Takii, Y.; Inagami, T.
Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science 12(3): 200-215
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0091-7370 PMID: 7046618 Document Number: 191660
Captopril, a competitive inhibitor of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), is an orally potent antihypertensive agent. Light microscopic and EM studies of the kidneys of mice, rats and monkeys given large oral captopril doses for long duration were conducted. All mice and some rats and monkeys developed hyperplasia of the renin-secreting cells which appeared in several layers surrounding the vascular wall of the afferent arterioles. In EM, these epithelioid cells appeared heavily loaded with aggregates of homogeneous, electron dense, osmiophilic amorphous granules filling distended spaces of the endoplasmic reticulum. The Golgi cisterns often included small, sharply outlined triangular or rhomboid osmiophilic granules. The use of specific renin antibodies and the application of the 3-layer bridge technique for peroxidase-antiperoxidase defined and verified the accumulation of renin in the juxtaglomerular cells. After cessation of dosing, hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular cells markedly regressed, and there was a significant reduction in the number and size of the renin granules in such cells.