Microanatomy of the renal cortex in the domestic fowl

Two aspects of the avian renal cortical microanatomy previously were unclear. The precise in situ folding patterns and orientations of the nephrons with respect to the other cortical elements had not been demonstrated. It also was not known whether certain nephron segments are supplied exclusively by either the arterial or the portal blood flow. In the present study, a new casting compound was developed to allow selective examination of the cortical components by light microscopy. Cortical nephrons at the surface of the kidney were serially sectioned and reconstructed in order to determine: (a) their relationships to the vasculature and collecting ducts; (b) the location and characteristics of the tubule segments; and (c) the primary and secondary folding patterns of the tubules. The anatomical findings were documented individually and then summarized in a comprehensive diagram of the superficial cortical microanatomy. In addition, an in vivo method was used to determine the extent of portal blood distribution to the nephron segments. It was demonstrated that renal portal blood suffuses all of the segments except for the loops of Henle.