Ureteral response to partial obstruction. Smooth muscle hyperplasia and connective tissue proliferation

A technique for producing a reversible form of partial ureteral obstruction in the experimental animal has been described. The response of the rabbit ureteral muscularis to partial obstruction was characterized by hypertrophy of the smooth muscle cells within the first 3 days followed by hyperplasia of the leiomyocytes which appeared to continue as long as the obstruction was present. Deposition of connective tissue was noted between the smooth muscle cells after 2 weeks of partial obstruction increasing to a marked extent by 8 weeks.