Ultrastructural organization of the transition from the distal nephron to the collecting duct in the desert rodent Psammomys obesus.

The transition from the nephron to the collecting duct is formed by three tubular segments (convoluted part of the distal tubule, connecting tubule, cortical collecting duct), which in the desert rodent, Psammomys obesus, transform gradually from one segment to the next, due to intermingling of their different cell types. The convoluted part of the distal tubule (DTC) starts abruptly, shortly beyond the macula densa and initially is homogeneously composed of characteristic DTC-cells. Subsequently, the DTC-cells intermingle with intercalated cells. The first appearance of the connecting-tubule cell, which gradually replaces the DTC-cell, is regarded as the beginning of the connecting tubule. The major portion of the connecting tubule is lined by connecting-tubule cells and intercalated cells. The first appearance of the principal cell between them defines the beginning of the cortical collecting duct, which in the medullary ray is lined by principal and intercalated cells only. Each cell type is described in detail and discussed in relation to the assumed function of the tubular segments. Interspecies differences in the cellular composition of the transitional zone from the nephron to the collecting duct are discussed in relation to the different organization of the collecting duct system.