What does the presence of abnormal cells in the kidney indicate?

Polkissen Cells in the Kidney

What Polkissen Cells Are

Polkissen cells are specialized juxtaglomerular cells located at the vascular pole of the glomerulus that participate in the renin-angiotensin system and play a role in renin secretion. 1

Cellular Characteristics and Function

• Distinctive ultrastructural features include the presence of polar nuclear bags (vacuolization) with attached ribosomes, which is an unusual morphological characteristic of these cells 1

• Secretory granules are present within polkissen cells, providing direct evidence of their secretory function 1

• Renin secretion correlation has been demonstrated, with a strong relationship observed between the degree of cellular vacuolization and plasma renin activity levels 1

Physiological Regulation

• Vacuolization increases in response to specific physiological stressors that activate the renin-angiotensin system, including:

  • Restricted sodium intake 1
  • Hemorrhage 1
  • Reduced renal perfusion pressure 1

• Functional significance suggests these cells are involved in regulating renin secretion as part of the juxtaglomerular apparatus, contributing to blood pressure homeostasis and fluid-electrolyte balance 1

Clinical Context

• Polkissen cells are normal anatomical structures within the kidney, not abnormal or pathological cells 1

• These cells represent part of the normal renal architecture involved in maintaining systemic blood pressure and kidney function through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system 1, 2

• Understanding polkissen cell function is relevant when evaluating conditions affecting the renin-angiotensin system, including hypertension and disorders of sodium and fluid balance 1