脊髓损伤扩散峰度成像参数与脊髓型颈椎病患者神经功能评分的相关性研究

目的:研究扩散峰度成像(DKI)参数与脊髓型颈椎病(CSM)患者神经功能评分的相关性及临床意义。方法:选取2018年12月至2019年6月本院收治的CSM患者37例作为研究组及健康志愿者的30例作为对照组,采用GE3.0磁共振机分别对两组人员行磁共振成像(MRI)及DKI扫描,观察其影像学特征及DKI参数的变化情况,并分析DKI参数值与临床行为评分的相关性。结果:所有研究对象的MRI图像均符合诊断要求。志愿者颈髓形态完整、信号均匀;不同年龄组颈髓平均弥散各向异性分数(FA)值、平均弥散峰度(MK)值比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。根据MRI的T2加权图像上椎管受压程度及脊髓信号改变,将实验组分为A、B、C组,对照组与各实验组的MK值、FA值比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。实验组FA值与mJOA评分呈显著正相关(r=0.34),与NDI评分呈负相关(r=-0.38);MK值与mJOA评分呈正相关(r=0.67),与NDI评分呈负相关(r=-0.46)。结论:DKI序列对CSM诊断具有参考较高价值,其参数与临床行为评分关系密切,能够评估早期CSM患者的脊髓损伤情况,并为诊断和治疗提供参考。     

肾癌高发人群正常肾脏MSCT灌注成像研究

目的:探讨40-70岁肾癌高发人群正常肾脏MSCT灌注成像特征.方法:正常志愿者109例,采用64排多层螺旋CT对其肾脏进行平扫及灌注增强扫描,使用后处理renal tumor perfusion软件对图像进行后处理,得出正常肾脏皮髓质包括血流量(BF)、血容量(BV)、平均通过时间(MTT)及表面通透性(PS)四个灌注参数,比较同一灌注参数在皮髓质、左右侧及不同性别之间的差异.结果:受检对象除3例腹式呼吸明显,不能完成同层扫描外,其余106例均得到理想图像及数据,肾皮质与髓质BF值、BV值及PS值灌注参数值存在显著性差异(P值均＜0.01),但肾皮质与髓质MTT值无显著性差异(P＞0.05).左右侧皮质间及髓质间灌注参数无统计学差异(P＞0.05).男女皮质间及髓质间灌注参数无统计学差异(P＞0.05).结论:多层螺旋CT(MSCT)灌注成像在显示肾脏形态的同时,还可定量测量皮髓质的血流灌注情况,间接反映肾脏生理特征.     

MSCT 灌注成像在肾细胞癌临床应用价值研究*

目的:探讨肾细胞癌多层螺旋CT(MSCT)灌注成像特征,并研究其临床应用价值。方法:肾癌患者69例,采用64排多层螺旋CT对其肾脏进行平扫及灌注增强扫描,使用renal tumor perfusion软件对图像进行后处理,自动生成时间-密度曲线(TDC),各种灌注图像及感兴趣区(ROI)内的灌注参数,包括血流量(BF)、血容量(BV)、平均通过时间(MTT)及表面通透性(PS),将得到的灌注参数分别进行统计分析。结果:肾癌肿块灌注参数与已测得的正常肾皮质各灌注参数值均存在显著性差异(P值均<0.01),其中,正常肾皮质的BF值、BV值及PS值均高于肾癌组织,MTT值则相反;肾癌肿块灌注参数与已测得的正常肾髓质各灌注参数值同样存在显著性差异(p值均<0.01),正常肾髓质各灌注参数值均低于肾癌组织,而PS值二者之间差别不显著(P<0.05);肾癌患者健侧肾皮髓质灌注参数值与已测得的正常肾皮髓质各灌注参数值及肾癌患者癌旁正常肾皮髓质各灌注参数值,三者之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:多层螺旋CT(MSCT)灌注成像在显示肾脏形态的同时,还可定量测量皮髓质的血流灌注情况,间接反映肾脏生理特征。     

声辐射力脉冲成像技术与尿β2-微球蛋白检测联合诊断高尿酸肾病的临床研究

目的:探讨声辐射力脉冲成像(ARFI)技术与尿β2-微球蛋白(β2-MG)检测联合诊断高尿酸肾病(HUAN)的临床价值。方法:回顾性分析和比较192例原发性高尿酸血症患者(PHUA组)、162例HUAN患者(HUAN组)和360例健康体检者(对照组)的血尿酸(UA)、血尿素氮(BUN)、血肌酐(Cr)及尿β2-MG水平、二维超声检测结果及ARFI技术检测的肾皮质、髓质和肾窦SWV值,分析HUAN患者的SWV值与临床分期的相关性,其肾实质、肾窦SWV值与尿β2-MG水平的相关性。结果:162例HUAN患者中,肾实质回声增强76例(46.91%),肾窦增宽89例(54.94%),肾皮质髓质结石49例(30.25%);192例PHUA患者和360例健康体检者肾皮质和髓质回声均无明显异常,肾窦结石分别为3例(0.83%)和5例(2.60%)。HUAN组肾皮质、髓质和肾窦SWV值分别为3.32±0.45 m/s、3.02±0.51 m/s和1.58±0.45 m/s;PHUA组分别为2.92±0.64 m/s、2.51±0.51 m/s和1.41±0.35 m/s;对照组分别为2.73±0.58 m/s、2.26±0.43 m/s和1.21±0.21 m/s;三组SWV值均为肾皮质肾髓质肾窦(P0.05)。HUAN组尿β2-MG水平明显高于PHUA组和对照组(P0.05)。HUAN组尿β2-MG水平与肾实质SWV值呈线性正相关(r=0.442,P0.001),而与肾窦呈零相关性(r=0)。Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ期HUAN患者肾皮质SWV值比较无明显差异(P0.05),Ⅱ-Ⅴ期肾髓质、肾窦SWV值均高于Ⅰ期(P0.05);Ⅳ、Ⅴ期肾皮质SWV值高于Ⅲ期(P0.001)。结论:HUAN患者在BUN和Cr升高之前,ARFI技术的SWV值和尿β2-MG水平均显著升高。ARFI技术联合尿β2-MG检测可作为评估肾实质组织弹性硬度及诊断早期HUAN的重要方法。     

早期糖尿病肾病大鼠模型磁共振弥散加权成像的初步研究

目的:探讨早期糖尿病肾病(Diabetic nephropathy,DN)模型大鼠磁共振弥散加权成像(Diffusion Weight Imaging,DWI)肾实质ADC值变化规律。方法:将20只清洁级雄性SD大鼠随机分成两组,糖尿病肾病组(DN组)12只,正常对照组(NC组)8只;DN组给予60 mg/kg链尿佐菌素腹腔注射诱导糖尿病肾病模型,NC组按照相同方法、相同剂量柠檬酸缓冲液腹腔注射;并对最终糖尿病模型造模成功并且存活的8只DN大鼠、8只NC大鼠进行MRI扫描,包括常规轴位T1WI、T2WI扫描及DWI扫描;扫描结束后收集血液送血肌酐及双肾组织进行病理检查。并测量每只大鼠双肾皮、髓质的ADC值。结果:造模后,DN组大鼠血糖明显升高、尿量明显增加、体重明显减低,DN组大鼠肾脏出现不同程度病理损伤,符合早期DN病理改变。DN组大鼠肾脏皮、髓质ADC值分别为1.522±0.913×10^-3 mm^2/s、1.268±0.388×10^-3 mm^2/s,较NC组肾脏皮、髓质ADC值1.276±0.341×10^-3 mm^2/s、1.011±0.217×10^-3 mm^2/s增高,两组比较有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:DWI成像ADC值可能反映早期糖尿病肾病肾脏功能的变化。     

声辐射力脉冲成像技术与尿beta2-微球蛋白检测联合诊断高尿酸肾病的临床研究

目的：探讨声辐射力脉冲成像(ARFI)技术与尿beta2- 微球蛋白(beta2-MG)检测联合诊断高尿酸肾病(HUAN)的临床价值。方法：回 顾性分析和比较192 例原发性高尿酸血症患者(PHUA 组)、162 例HUAN患者(HUAN 组)和360例健康体检者(对照组)的血尿酸 (UA)、血尿素氮(BUN)、血肌酐(Cr)及尿beta2-MG 水平、二维超声检测结果及ARFI 技术检测的肾皮质、髓质和肾窦SWV 值,分析 HUAN患者的SWV 值与临床分期的相关性,其肾实质、肾窦SWV 值与尿beta2-MG 水平的相关性。结果：162 例HUAN 患者中,肾 实质回声增强76 例(46.91%),肾窦增宽89 例(54.94%),肾皮质髓质结石49 例(30.25%);192 例PHUA患者和360 例健康体检者 肾皮质和髓质回声均无明显异常,肾窦结石分别为3 例(0.83%)和5 例(2.60%)。HUAN 组肾皮质、髓质和肾窦SWV 值分别为 3.32± 0.45 m/s、3.02± 0.51 m/s和1.58± 0.45 m/s;PHUA组分别为2.92± 0.64 m/s、2.51± 0.51 m/s 和1.41± 0.35 m/s;对照组分别 为2.73± 0.58 m/s、2.26± 0.43 m/s和1.21± 0.21 m/s;三组SWV 值均为肾皮质> 肾髓质>肾窦(P<0.05)。HUAN组尿beta2-MG 水平 明显高于PHUA 组和对照组(P<0.05)。HUAN组尿beta2-MG 水平与肾实质SWV 值呈线性正相关(r=0.442,P<0.001),而与肾窦呈零 相关性(r=0)。Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ期HUAN患者肾皮质SWV 值比较无明显差异(P>0.05),Ⅱ-Ⅴ期肾髓质、肾窦SWV 值均高于Ⅰ期(P<0. 05);Ⅳ、Ⅴ期肾皮质SWV值高于Ⅲ期(P<0.001)。结论：HUAN 患者在BUN和Cr升高之前,ARFI技术的SWV 值和尿beta2-MG 水 平均显著升高。ARFI技术联合尿beta2-MG 检测可作为评估肾实质组织弹性硬度及诊断早期HUAN 的重要方法.     

扩散张量成像对颈椎病脊髓早期损伤的研究

目的:探讨磁共振(MR)扩散张量成像(DTI)作为定量分析方法,对脊髓型颈椎病(CSM)脊髓早期损伤诊断的应用价值.方法:选择45例经临床及影像诊断为脊髓型颈椎病患者,颈椎常规MRI检查显示脊髓内无异常信号,使用单次激发自旋回波平面(SE-EPI)序列,进行DTI扫描.测量压迫部位脊髓的ADC值及FA值作为病例组,选择病变上或下方两个节段以上未受压正常脊髓作为正常对照组,测量其ADC值及FA值.分析病例组与对照组间ADC及FA值差别,计算ADC值及FA值诊断脊髓损伤的敏感性.结果:所有脊髓型颈椎病患者经DTI检查均可得到ADC图及FA图,经图像后处理,脊髓显示清晰,图像无变形及伪影.3例脊髓型颈椎病患者ADC值降低,42例脊髓型颈椎病患者ADC值增高,平均ADC值为(1.388± 0.149)x 10-3 mm2/s.44名脊髓型颈椎病患者FA值降低,1名脊髓型颈椎病患者FA值增高,平均FA值为0.476±0.085,受压处脊髓平均ADC值升高,平均FA值下降,与正常值比较差别有统计学意义.ADC值诊断的敏感性为93.33％,FA值诊断的敏感性为97.78％.结论:DTI与常规MR比较,能早期而准确地诊断脊髓型颈椎病脊髓早期损伤.     

足月缺氧缺血性脑病患儿磁共振扩散张量成像各向异性分数的动态变化及其诊断价值分析

目的:了解足月缺氧缺血性脑病(HIE)患儿在磁共振扩散张量成像(DTI)下各向异性分数(FA)的动态变化,分析其诊断价值。方法:选取我院从2016年2月~2019年5月收治的足月HIE患儿90例,将其按照病情严重程度的差异分成轻度HIE组45例、中度HIE组27例、重度HIE组18例,另取同期30例正常足月新生儿作为对照组。所有新生儿均进行颅脑常规磁共振成像(MRI)以及DTI扫描,测量并对比内囊前肢、内囊后肢、胼胝体膝部、胼胝体压部以及豆状核的FA值。通过ROC曲线分析各FA值的诊断效能,以Spearman相关性分析各FA值和HIE病情严重程度的相关性。结果:中度HIE组、重度HIE组内囊前肢、内囊后肢、胼胝体膝部、胼胝体压部的FA值均低于对照组,且轻度HIE组、中度HIE组患儿上述FA值高于重度HIE组(均P<0.05)。ROC曲线分析结果显示,内囊后肢FA值对HIE的诊断效能最高,FA值的截断点为0.545,曲线下面积为0.804,其诊断敏感度、特异度以及Youden指数分别为61.4%、85.9%、0.473。Spearman相关性分析显示内囊前肢、内囊后肢、胼胝体膝部、胼胝体压部的FA值与HIE严重程度均呈负相关关系(均P<0.05)。结论:足月HIE患儿中,中、重度HIE患儿的内囊前肢、内囊后肢、胼胝体膝部、胼胝体压部的FA值较正常足月新生儿存在明显的降低,且上述FA值与HIE病情严重程度呈负相关关系,其中内囊后肢FA值对HIE的诊断效能最高,或可作为临床诊断足月新生儿HIE的参考指标。     

磁共振扩散张量成像技术在诊断脊髓型颈椎病中的价值分析

目的探讨磁共振扩散张量成像技术(DTI)在诊断脊髓型颈椎病(CSM)中的应用价值。方法选取2015年3月~2017年9月在我院确诊为CSM的患者32例为实验组,同时选择31例健康志愿者为对照组,两组患者均行MRI及DTI扫描。观察比较两组患者颈髓表面扩散系数(ADC)及分数各向异性值(FA)情况。结果实验组的C_(3/4)、C_(4/5)、C_(5/6)节段的颈髓ADC值均显著高于对照组,组间差异有统计学意义(均P0.01)。而且实验组的C_(3/4)、C_(4/5)、C_(5/6)节段的颈髓FA值均显著低于对照组,组间差异有统计学意义(均P0.01)。结论在诊断CSM中采用磁共振扩散张量成像技术(DTI),能够更准确检测脊髓损伤结构的变化,为医生早期诊疗脊髓型颈椎病提供依据。     

肾脏的血液循环

肾脏是人体最重要的排泄器官,其主要功能是形成尿液,不仅从尿中排出大量代谢的终产物,而且对维持体内水、电解质的平衡以及酸碱平衡,保持内环境的相对稳定有着极为重要的作用。肾脏的这些功能与它的血液循环关系极为密切,因此要认识肾的泌尿功能,必须对肾的血液循环有所了解。 (一)肾的基本结构肾位于腹腔,脊柱腰椎两侧,左右各一;是实质性器官,分皮质和髓质。肾单位是肾的基本结构和功能单位,人的两侧肾约有170-240万个肾单位。每个肾单位由一个肾小体和其连接的肾小管构成(图1)。     

Initial Application of Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging in Evaluating Brain Development of Healthy Preterm Infants

ObjectiveTo explore the parametric characteristics of diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) in the brain development of healthy preterm infants.ResultsMK and FA values were positively correlated with PMA in most selected WM regions, such as the posterior limbs of the internal capsule (PLIC) and the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC). The positive correlation between MK value and PMA in the deep GM region was higher than that between FA and PMA. The MK value gradually decreased from the PLIC to the cerebral lobe. In addition, DKI parameters exhibited subtle differences in the parietal WM between the preterm and term control groups.ConclusionsMK may serve as a more reliable imaging marker of the normal myelination process and provide a more robust characterization of deep GM maturation.     

Influence of Noise Correction on Intra- and Inter-Subject Variability of Quantitative Metrics in Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging

Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) is a promising extension of diffusion tensor imaging, giving new insights into the white matter microstructure and providing new biomarkers. Given the rapidly increasing number of studies, DKI has a potential to establish itself as a valuable tool in brain diagnostics. However, to become a routine procedure, DKI still needs to be improved in terms of robustness, reliability, and reproducibility. As it requires acquisitions at higher diffusion weightings, results are more affected by noise than in diffusion tensor imaging. The lack of standard procedures for post-processing, especially for noise correction, might become a significant obstacle for the use of DKI in clinical routine limiting its application. We considered two noise correction schemes accounting for the noise properties of multichannel phased-array coils, in order to improve the data quality at signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) typical for DKI. The SNR dependence of estimated DKI metrics such as mean kurtosis (MK), mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) is investigated for these noise correction approaches in Monte Carlo simulations and in in vivo human studies. The intra-subject reproducibility is investigated in a single subject study by varying the SNR level and SNR spatial distribution. Then the impact of the noise correction on inter-subject variability is evaluated in a homogeneous sample of 25 healthy volunteers. Results show a strong impact of noise correction on the MK estimate, while the estimation of FA and MD was affected to a lesser extent. Both intra- and inter-subject SNR-related variability of the MK estimate is considerably reduced after correction for the noise bias, providing more accurate and reproducible measures. In this work, we have proposed a straightforward method that improves accuracy of DKI metrics. This should contribute to standardization of DKI applications in clinical studies making valuable inferences in group analysis and longitudinal studies.     

Characterization of Breast Tumors Using Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging (DKI)

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate and evaluate the role of magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in characterizing breast lesions.

Materials and Methods

One hundred and twenty-four lesions in 103 patients (mean age: 57±14 years) were evaluated by MR DKI performed with 7 b-values of 0, 250, 500, 750, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 s/mm² and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MR imaging. Breast lesions were histologically characterized and DKI related parameters—mean diffusivity (MD) and mean kurtosis (MK)—were measured. The MD and MK in normal fibroglandular breast tissue, benign and malignant lesions were compared by One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey''s multiple comparison test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of MD and MK in the diagnosis of breast lesions.

Results

The benign lesions (n = 42) and malignant lesions (n = 82) had mean diameters of 11.4±3.4 mm and 35.8±20.1 mm, respectively. The MK for malignant lesions (0.88±0.17) was significantly higher than that for benign lesions (0.47±0.14) (P<0.001), and, in contrast, MD for benign lesions (1.97±0.35 (10⁻³ mm²/s)) was higher than that for malignant lesions (1.20±0.31 (10⁻³ mm²/s)) (P<0.001). At a cutoff MD/MK 1.58 (10⁻³ mm²/s)/0.69, sensitivity and specificity of MD/MK for the diagnosis of malignant were 79.3%/84.2% and 92.9%/92.9%, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) is 0.86/0.92 for MD/MK.

Conclusions

DKI could provide valuable information on the diffusion properties related to tumor microenvironment and increase diagnostic confidence of breast tumors.     

The effect of unilateral ureteral obstruction on renal function in pigs measured by diffusion-weighted MRI

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of unilateral ureteral obstruction on the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in pig kidney. Changes in ADC is suggested to reflect changes in the ratio of extracellular to intracellular volume. Thirteen pigs were allocated into three groups: 1) pigs subjected to acute unilateral ureteral obstruction (AUO) (n = 3), 2) pigs subjected to chronic partial unilateral obstruction (CPUO) (n = 3), and 3) control pigs (n = 7). The extra- to intracellular volume ratio was indirectly measured in both the ipsilateral obstructed kidney and contralateral non-obstructed kidney by the ADC of the renal tissue using diffusion-weighted echo-planar magnetic resonance imaging. ADC was 2.07 +/- 0.27 x 10(-3) mm2/s in the cortex and 2.10 +/- 0.24 x 10(-3) mm2/s in the medulla of normal control kidneys. In the obstructed kidney from the AUO group the ADC of the medulla was significantly reduced 24 hours after occlusion of the ureter (1.65 +/- 0.05 x 10(-3) mm2/s vs 2.10 +/- 0.24 x 10(-3) mm2/s; p < 0.05). Similarly ADC decreased slightly in the cortex of the ipsilateral kidney. In contrast, ADC of the ipsilateral kidney of CPUO pigs was increased both in the renal medulla (3.13 +/- 0.21 x 10(-3) mm2/s vs. 2.10 +/- 0.24 x 10(-3) mm2/s; p < 0.05) and cortex (3.09 +/- 0.14 x 10(-3) mm2/s vs. 2.07 x 10(-3) mm2/s, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that diffusion weighted imaging (ADC) may be a useful parameter to incorporate when identifying whether a ureteric obstruction is acute or chronic.     

Glomerular Filtration Rate and Renal Plasma Flow in Long-term Juvenile Diabetics without Proteinuria

Glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow were examined in 16 young male non-proteinuric diabetics (mean age 28·4 years) with a duration of diabetes of over 15 years (mean duration 21·5 years.) In this selected group of long-term diabetics the glomerular filtration rate was clearly increased, the mean being 136 ml/min (±S.D. 11·8) (normal value 114 ml/min (±14·1), being comparable to that found earlier in short-term diabetics. There was no change in renal plasma flow. It is concluded that kidney function is generally well preserved in long-term diabetics who have not developed proteinuria.     

Estimation of ouabian specifically bound to dog renal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in vivo

It is not known whether ouabain injected into the kidney in vivo is bound exclusively to the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase and whether the reduction of sodium pumping capacity is large enough to account for the reduction in sodium reabsorption. In the present study on dogs the total amount of parenchymal ouabain was therefore estimated and the specific renal binding compared to the reduction in (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase activity. Ouabain, 120 nmol/kg body weight, was injected into the renal artery in vivo reducing the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase activity by 3lmost 80%. After nephrectomy, tissue ouabain could be quantified by radioimmunoassay after heating the homogenate to 70°C for 30 min; negligible amounts were detectable without heating. No correlation between ouabain binding and tissue volume, protein content, DNA content or Mg²⁺-ATPase content could be found when comparing the following four fractions of the kidney: outer cortex, inner cortex, outer medulla and papilla. For the whole kidney, mean parenchymal tissue concentration of ouabain equalled 0.58 ± 0.03 μmol/100 g wet tissue. Only 21.3 ± 1.2% of the ouabain was confined to the outer medulla corresponding to 54 ± 4 nmol giving a tissue concentration of 1.08 ± 0.05 μmol/100 g wet tissue. The renal ouabain concentrations were highly correlated to the reduction in (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase activity, giving a ratio between the reduction in hydrolysis rate and bound ouabain (turnover number) of 6105 min^?1 which is close to the value of 7180 min^?1 found by in vitro Scatchard analysis. No ouabain seems to be bound to other tissue components than the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase and the present method is therefore a simple way of measuring the number of inhibited (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase molecules after in vivo injection of ouabain.     

Hepatocyte nuclear factors as possible C-reactive protein transcriptional inducer in the liver and white adipose tissue of rats with experimental chronic renal failure

Little is known about the effects of coffee that are not related to the presence of caffeine. The aim of the study was to analyse changes in kidney function and nucleotide metabolism related to high intake of decaffeinated coffee. Mice consumed decaffeinated coffee extract for two weeks. Activities of AMP deaminase, ecto5′-nucleotidase, adenosine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase were measured in kidney cortex and medulla by analysis of conversion of substrates into products using HPLC. Concentration of nucleotides in kidney cortex, kidney medulla and serum were estimated by HPLC. Activity of ecto5′-nucleotidase increased from 0.032 ± 0.006 to 0.049 ± 0.014 nmol/mg tissue/min in kidney cortex of mice administered high-dose decaffeinated coffee (HDC) together with increase in cortex adenosine concentration and decrease in plasma creatinine concentration. HDC leads to increased activity of ecto5′-nucleotidase in kidney cortex that translates to increase in concentration of adenosine. Surprisingly this caused improved kidney excretion function.     

Tissue distribution of Neutrophils in postischemic acute renal failure

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes (PMNs) seem to participate in the pathogenesis of renal ischemic reperfusion injury. The kidneys from male Sprague Dawley rats were immersion-fixed after 45 min of renal artery clamping followed by reperfusion for 0, 5, 20, and 120 min, respectively. The tissue distribution of PMNs in the kidneys was studied histochemically using naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase as a specific marker for these cells. Neutrophil counts per unit sectional area were obtained for renal cortex, outer and inner medulla. In the cortex separate intraglomerular and peritubular counts, and in the outer medulla separate outer and inner stripe counts were made. After 120 min of reperfusion the total renal PMN counts were 488 ±62 (n = 4) compared with 54 ±4 (n = 4) per cm² in nonischemic controls. Within 120 min of reperfusion PMN counts increased by a factor of 8 in the cortex, of 12 in the outer medulla and of 14 in the inner medulla, compared with controls. The ratio of intraglomerular against peritubular PMN counts was approximately 2 in controls, but 0.5 after a 120-min reperfusion interval. The outer stripe of the outer medulla contained only a small number of PMNs whereas PMN counts of 923 ±197 (n = 4) per cm² were found in the inner stripe after 120 min reperfusion. Interestingly, there was a marked increase in PMNs in the inner stripe during the first 5 min of reperfusion but no extravasation of PMNs was observed. Taken together, these data provide the first evidence that PMNs accumulate particularly within peritubular capillaries in the cortex and within the inner stripe of the outer medulla. This distribution pattern is consistent with the hypothesis that PMN-augmented cell injury occurs in the early phase of postischemic acute renal failure. In addition the steady increase in PMNs during reperfusion may further contribute to impaired renal function.