Cellular proliferation in vasa rectae in acute tubular necrosis. A histochemical and electron microscopical study.

The vasa rectae of the renal cortico-medullary junction were studied in cases of acute tubular necrosis. Although routine light microscopical observations suggested a heterogeneous population of hematopoietic cells, further studies revealed two groups that showed (1) a major fraction, consisting of the lymphoplasma-cytic series with varying stages of maturation, and (2) a minor fraction of granulocytic precursors. The possible importance of this phenomenon is discussed.