Knowledge of the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) of the kidney and of the synthesis and secretion of renin has increased to such an extent over the past few years that it is now appropriate to summarize this knowledge in a monograph on the JGA, the first of its kind. It was the authors' special concern to demonstrate the association between structure and function for renin secretion, not only within the juxtaglomerular region, but also in the region of the renal cortex beyond the JGA. The description of the pathology of the human JGA, studded with references to experimental findings but nevertheless fully self-contained, should help to make this monograph also useful for clinicians.

Contents: The Juxtaglomerular Apparatus - History of a Concept

Morphology of the Juxtaglomerular Apparatus
Elements with Structural and/or Functional Relationships to the Juxtaglomerular Apparatus
Intrarenal Distribution of the Different Components of the Renin-Angiotensin System
Synthesis and Traffic of Renin in Epithelioid Cells
Morphology of Renin Release from Epithelioid Cells
Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Biochemistry of Renin Secretion
Electrophysiology of Epithelioid Cells
Intrarenal Renin-Angiotensin System
Metaplastic Transformation Between Smooth Muscle Cells and Epithelioid Cells
Long-Term Modulation of Renin Synthesis and Secretion
Interspecies Variations of the Juxtaglomerular Apparatus in Mammals
Phylogeny and Ontogeny of the Juxtaglomerular Apparatus
Pathology of the Human Juxtaglomerular Apparatus
References
Subject Index.