The Surface Morphology and Ultrastructure of Renal Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells in Patients with Renovascular Hypertension

Ying Shiung Lee*, Yn Tz Sung, Chau Hsiung Chang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The surface and internal ultrastructure of renal arterial smooth muscle cells were investigated in 3 patients with renovascular hypertension. The most characteristic features of the surface pathology in hypertrophied smooth muscle cells consisted of various degrees of surface defects, including both extensive loss of surface details and an irregular thickening and disruption of the basement membrane, which was widely separated from the plasma membrane by a clear space. Ultrastructural changes include the appearance of highly lobulated nuclei, multinucleation, disorganization of myofilaments and increased numbers of rough-surfaced sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, which are usual manifestations of cellular hypertrophy. These results suggest that ionic movement across the cell membranes, particularly of Ca2+, is probably abnormal in hypertrophied smooth muscle cells. This may result in functional disorders of hypertensive arteries.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)509-525
Number of pages17
JournalJapanese Heart Journal
Volume23
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1982
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Basement membrane
  • Fibromuscular dysplastia
  • Myofilaments
  • Subsarcolemmal vesicles
  • Surface pathology
  • Takayasu's arteritis

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