Sheep Kidney Lab

Purpose:

• To study the structure and function of structures located in the mammalian (sheep) kidney

• To demonstrate proper use and cleanup of biological specimens and dissection equipment

Safety Hazards:

1. Preserved biological tissue

2. Sharp scalpels and scissors

Procedure:

1. Read all of the procedures.

2. Examine the drawings below. Complete the table below of the major structures and functions of the sheep kidney on the left. - 8 points

;Structure ---i-Letter i ----------- Function

·-----------r-------f-·-------·-----·-·-------------·------ .. -l

Renal capsule I I . . !

,..----------1-------------··--·----·-- .... ------·----·-· .. -··--------------1

~:~:: ~oe~e~la-I-·----·+------------ "-l

t~:~~~ pyramid I-···--~--===--- -----.------ =4

Ureter -i-----T---- -,

lRenai" artery --·---r---------- .----.-----------

IRenal vein -r - -~===-----.-j

.!! 1i

1.1":

3. Put on gloves, lab apron, and safety goggles.

4. Obtain the dissecting tools and a dissecting tray from your station and a sheep kidney from your teacher. Rinse the sheep kidney in the sink to remove excess preservatives. Do not leave any tissue in the sink.

5. Notice: These kidneys have been drained and injected with latex. In most circumstances, red latex was injected into arteries, blue latex was injected into veins, and yellow latex was injected into areas that would normally contain filtrate or urine.

6. The kidneys are located on the dorsal body wall in the lumbar region of the sheep. They are attached to the body wall by adipose tissue. Note remnants of this adipose tissue clinging to the renal capsule or outer layer of the kidney.

7. Notice the pinched-in area where the renal artery carries unfiltered blood into the kidney from the aorta and the renal vein carries filtered blood from the kidney to the inferior vena cava and back to the heart. Note the difference in the width of the walls of these two blood vessels. Why are the walls of these blood

vessels different? '

8. Notice the ureter in this same area. Usually the ureter has the most adipose tissue around it.

9. Now carefully make a frontal section through the kidney. Identify the renal pelvis, the cavity within the kidney that is continuous with the ureter.

10. The region of the kidney just below the capsule is the renal cortex. It looks reddish-brown due to its extensive blood supply. Each kidney contains about one million nephrons, the filtering units of the kidney. More than 80% of the nephron, including the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule, are located here in the cortex.

11. The region just inside the cortex is the renal medulla. The loop of the Henle and the collecting ducts of each nephron are located here. The triangular regions . are the renal pyramids, which appear striped due to the collecting ducts running

through them. .

12. Label one structure, internal or external, with the numbered pin for a practice lab practical exam.

13. When all teams are ready, proceed from station to station, recording the name and function for each labeled structure.

14. As described by your teacher, properly dispose of the kidney. Wash, disinfect, and dry the dissection tray, pins, and tools. Spray and wipe down your lab table.

15. When approved by your teacher, remove your gloves, apron, and goggles. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap.

HL Kidney "Dissection"

Aim: To view the structures which make up nephrons, the blood vessels in the kidney and to estimate the relative length of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules in the cortex and the medulla ..

Glomerulus

Look at the stained slide of the kidney. Hold it up to the light to distinguish the CORTEX from the MEDULLA. Note the blue-stained CAPSULE covering the surface.

View the same regions with the low magnification of the microscope.

cap

.

The outer regions, called the cortex are distinguished by numerous TS profiles of tubules

and glomeruli.

Identify the capsule and look at a glomerulus with a higher magnification. It is essentially a tuft of capillaries embedded in a double-walled epithelium (like a fist in a balloon). The epithelium is called "Bowman's capsule".

The filtration membrane is formed from the endothelial cells of the capillaries, basement membrane, and epithelium.

1. Draw a quick sketch to show how the glomerulus and the Bowmans capsule fit together.

2. Find a Bowmans Capsule on your slide. Call the teacher over to see your slide for assessment

".'." -~

The above photograph shows a higher magnification of the glomerulus in Bowman's capsule. Note the blood capillaries in the glomerulus. The space between the two epithelia is called Bowman's space.

3. Draw small arrows on the photo above showing the route and direction of the ultrafiltrate across the filtration membrane.

4.Where does the filtrate go after it passes the filtration membrane?

The above micrograph shows cells of the Proximal tubule beginning and joining with the cells of the Bowman's capsule.

5. Draw a labelled sketch diagram which shows how this Bowman's capsule is connected to the proximal tubule.

The profiles of the cortex will show proximal and distal tubules. They are supplied bya capillary network.

In the above photograph, numerous proximal tubules are seen (PT). The cells are distinguished by an uneven apical border (because it is a brush border). Also, the base of the cells have many interdigitating processes that are filled with mitochondria (used in active uptake, which needs energy). These can be visualized in the section, shown above, as "ridges" running through the cells.

In contrast, distal tubules have no brush border (DT). They have lateral interdigitations, however. They are distinguished from proximal tubules by the fact that they have a smoother apical surface. Also, the cells are smaller. Therefore, it is likely that one will see a nucleus in every profile. In contrast, the proximal tubule cell profiles may not show as many nuclei.

6. Find a Proximal & a Distal Tubule on your slide. Call the teacher over to see your slide for assessment

I--·--------·--··~---------I

Completed 'II I

-'------------ !

Bowman1s space

The above photograph shows the transition between Bowman's Space and the Proximal Convoluted tubule. Note that the cells show an abrupt transition from simple squamous (squashed) to simple cuboidal (cube shaped) in the proximal tubule (PT). Note also that the connective tissue supporting the tubules are stained bright blue.

Kidney Nephron

The nephron is the basic structural unit of the kidney. It is a tubule that consists of different regions which handle the glomerular filtrate conserving valuable salts, water, proteins. Each region is a simple epithelium that is specialized to handle the unique functions.

It begins with the PROXMAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE made of cuboidal epithelium. These are very long and tortuous and remain in the cortex.

The proximal tubule then changes to squamous epithelium which passes down to the medulla and then loops back up to the cortex. The thin part of the nephron is called the" DESCENDING LIMB of the LOOP OF HENLE". As it ascends to the cortex again, it thickens to form the "THICK ASCENDING LIMB" of the Loop of Henle. Then, it becomes cuboidal and forms the DISTAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE. This part of the nephron joins with the COLLECTING TUBULES which then descend to the medulla in the medullary rays.