The response of the renal pelvis to infection: a scanning electron microscopic study.

The response of the rat renal pelvis to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection was examined using scanning electron microscopy. Bacterial attachment was noted in regions of microplical alteration with subsequent strand formation and epithelial cell exfoliation. These observations support the hypothesis that bacterial invasion initiates defense mechanisms in the renal pelvis similar to those noted in bladders, namely, membrane alteration with increased bacterial attachment, strand formation with further bacterial entrapment, and exfoliation of bacteria-laden epithelial cells which are eliminated via voiding.