Zebrafish mesonephric renin cells are functionally conserved and comprise of two distinct morphological populations.

Zebrafish mesonephric renin cells are functionally conserved and comprise of two distinct morphological populations. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2017 Feb 08;:ajprenal.00608.2016 Authors: Rider SA, Christian HC, Mullins LJ, Howarth AR, MacRae CA, Mullins JJ Abstract Zebrafish provide an excellent model in which to assess the role of the renin-angiotensin system in renal development, injury and repair. In contrast to mammals, zebrafish kidney organogenesis terminates with the mesonephros. Despite this, the basic functional structure of the nephron is conserved across vertebrates. The relevance of teleosts for studies relating to the regulation of the renin-angiotensin system was established by assessing the phenotype and functional regulation of renin-expressing cells in zebrafish. Transgenic fluorescent reporters for renin (ren), smooth muscle actin (acta2), and platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (pdgfrb) were studied to determine the phenotype and secretory ultrastructure of perivascular renin-expressing cells. Whole-kidney ren transcription responded to altered salinity, pharmacological renin-angiotensin system inhibition, and renal injury. Mesonephric ren-expressing cells occupied niches at the pre-glomerular arteries and afferent arterioles, forming intermittent epithelioid-like multi-cellular clusters exhibiting a granular secretory ultrastructure. In contrast, renin cells of the efferent arterioles were thin-bodied and...
Source: Am J Physiol Renal P... - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Renal Physiol Source Type: research