Muirhead E E, Brooks B, Pitcock J A, Stephenson P
J Clin Invest. 1972 Jan;51(1):181-90. doi: 10.1172/JCI106790.
The antihypertensive function of the renal medulla was tested on accelerated (malignant) hypertension of the rabbit. A procedure for the development of accelerated hypertension of the rabbit of lethal proportions within 3 wk was established. This procedure consisted of the application of a rigid clip with a fixed and unyielding gap to the left renal artery and removal of the right kidney. Three additional manipulations, other than simple nephrectomy, were performed on the right kidney after application of the rigid clip to the left renal artery. These were: (a) a sham operation, (b) removal of the kidney and separation of the renal cortex and its autotransplantation in a fragmented state, and (c) removal of the kidney and separation of the renal medulla and its autotransplantation in a fragmented state. After the sham-operated kidney and autotransplanted renal medulla, the standardized accelerated hypertension did not develop, whereas after autotransplanted renal cortex it did. After a period of protection against accelerated hypertension, removal of either the sham-operated kidney or the renomedullary transplants was followed by a prompt rise in arterial pressure and death of the animal. Thus, the antihypertensive action of renomedullary tissue was similar to that of the whole kidney. The main cell type noted in the protective renomedullary transplants had the microscopic characteristics of the lipid-containing interstitial cells. These cells occurred in clusters, often were near capillaries, and appeared hyperplastic. It is suggested that the renomedullary interstitial cell is the most eligible cell for exertion of the renomedullary antihypertensive action. Since vasoactive lipids are extractable from the renal medulla and its interstitial cells, the hypothesis that interstitial cells secrete antihypertensive substance(s) is attractive.
在兔的急进型（恶性）高血压模型上测试了肾髓质的降压功能。建立了一种在3周内使兔产生致死性急进型高血压的方法。该方法包括用一个间隙固定且不可弯曲的硬夹夹闭左肾动脉，并切除右肾。在左肾动脉夹闭后，对右肾进行了除单纯肾切除外的另外三种操作。这些操作分别是：（a）假手术；（b）切除肾脏并分离肾皮质，然后将其碎块自体移植；（c）切除肾脏并分离肾髓质，然后将其碎块自体移植。在进行假手术肾和自体移植肾髓质后，未出现标准化的急进型高血压，而在自体移植肾皮质后则出现了。在经过一段预防急进型高血压的时期后，切除假手术肾或肾髓质移植体后，动物的动脉压迅速升高并死亡。因此，肾髓质组织的降压作用与整个肾脏的降压作用相似。在具有保护作用的肾髓质移植体中观察到的主要细胞类型具有含脂质间质细胞的微观特征。这些细胞成簇出现，常靠近毛细血管，且呈增生状态。提示肾髓质间质细胞是发挥肾髓质降压作用的最适宜细胞。由于血管活性脂质可从肾髓质及其间质细胞中提取出来，间质细胞分泌降压物质的假说很有吸引力。
