Experimental papillary necrosis of the kidney. II. Electron microscopic and histochemical studies

Renal papillary necrosis was induced in rats by bromoethylamine hydrobromide and studied electron microscopically and histochemically. Morphologic changes appear to develop in vessels and tubules simultaneously, rather than tubular lesions preceding and leading to vascular lesions, or vice versa. Abnormalities are recognized as early as 3 hours, but platelets do not make their appearance until 12 hours, eliminating primary vascular thrombosis as the source of papillary injury.