Ultrastructural evidence for a reabsorptive role by intrarenal veins

Intrarenal veins, although known to have thin walls, are considered to be simple conducting vessels. Using light- and electron microscopy, the distribution and structure of named intrarenal veins was examined qualitatively and quantitatively in rat kidneys fixed by retrograde arterial perfusion. Although the venous system follows the pattern of arterial branching in general, a class of intracortical veins similar in appearance to interlobular veins but without a companion artery was found in the present study. It is suggested that these vessels be designated intralobular veins. Structurally, we have found intrarenal veins to be surprisingly similar to peritubular capillaries both in respect to their spatial relations to renal tubules as well as ultrastructurally. Like peritubular capillaries, the majority of the wall of intrarenal veins is intimately apposed to renal tubules. This fraction decreases centrally, values of 0.83 being obtained in intralobular veins, 0.69 in interlobular veins, and 0.56 in arcuate veins. The walls of intrarenal veins are comprised of little more than an endothelium, which, like peritubular capillaries, is remarkable for its thinness, high density of fenestrae, and lack of extraintimal elements. Endothelial thickness was not significantly greater in either interlobular or arcuate veins than in peritubular capillaries; the fenestrae were, however, about twice as frequent in peritubular capillaries as in interlobular or arcuate veins and 35 times more frequent than in interlobar veins. The size and numerical and volume densities of uncoated endocytotic vesicles did not differ significantly between peritubular capillaries and any of the intrarenal veins. Based on their marked qualitative and quantitative similarities to peritubular capillaries, we conclude that, like the latter, intrarenal veins are capable of sustaining passive transport between plasma and interstitium.