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In the adrenalectomized mice, the morphological characteristics of ultrastructure of the juxtaglomerular cells were investigated by the application of the stereomorphometry introduced by Loud(1962) with the aim elucidating its functional changes. The kidney was prefixed by perfusion with 2.3% glutaraldehyde in 45 mM cacodylate buffer, pH7.4, and its specimens were postfixed in cold 1% osmium tetroxide in 45 mM cacodylate buffer, pH 7.4, by immersion. Their thin sections were contrasted with uranyl acetate and lead citrate, and their electron micrographs were taken for the stereomorphometrical study. The results observed were as follows: 1. The fractions of the mitochondria, secretary granles, and membrane space of the normal juxtaglomerular cell show 3.41%, 15.61% and 61.78%, respectively. 2. The fractions of the mitochondria, secretary granules, and membrane space of juxtaglomerular cell in the adrenalectomized mouse are 2.59%, 35.98% and 43.90% respectively. There is no evidence in the change of mitochondrial fraction, but the secretary granules show increase in fraction and that of the membrane space decreases in comparison with normal mouse. 3. In the juxtaglomerular cells of the normal mouse, well developed granular endoplasmic reticulae and matured, round secretary granules with relatively unifrom density are seen in their cytoplasm. On the contrary, the cells of the adrenalectomized mouse contain immatured secretary granules with varying density as well as matured ones with round and irregular contours, and well developed granular endoplasmic reticulae show distended cisternae.
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