Aspects of renal vascular organization and early vascular tubular relations of the marsupial Isoodon obesulus.

Renal vascular tubular relationships were studied in the marsupial Isoodon obesulus (the common brown bandicoot). The microcirculation was filled with colored silicone rubber by intra-arterial injection of the intact kidney. Nephrons were defined by the injection of silicone rubber of a contrasting color into the space of Bowman's capsule in thick, cleared slices of renal tissue. The details of the vascular tubular relationship in this marsupial are strikingly similar to relationships previously described in true mammalian kidneys. An unusual feature is a wide (600mu) glomerulus-free zone at the outer cortex. This zone contains the proximal and distal convoluted tubules of the most superficial cortical nephrons and is perfused by efferent vessels from glomeruli in superficial strata of the cortex.