A comparative enzyme histochemical and histological study of the effect of ischaemia and post mortem change on rat kidneys.

A histochemical study of the effect of ischaemia on rat kidneys showed that changes were demonstrable in adenosine triphosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and succinic dehydrogenase within 2 h. Further changes occurred with increasing time. The activity of acid phosphatase was little affected up to 24 h although at this time there was marked tubular disruption. Paraffin embedded H and E sections also showed marked changes within 2 h. Enzyme histochemical and histological changes in kidneys taken at varying periods after the death of the animal showed very similar changes to those in ischaemic kidneys. Differences were mainly in the rate and extent of the changes.