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This study was performed to clarify the morphological structures of the epithelia of the renal papilla, renal pelvis and ureter of the sheep (Ovis aries L.) through the light and scanning electron microscopes, Tissue specimens were taken from the renal papilla (common renal papilla and peripelvic column) and the renal pelvis (pelvis proper and pelvic pouch) of the kidney and the ureter. For the light microscopy, tissue blocks were fixed in 10 % neutral buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin wax, serially sectioned at a thickness of . These sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff reaction. For the scanning electron microscopy, tissue blocks were prefixed in 1% glutaral-dehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde solution and postfixed in 1% osmium tetroxide solution, dehydrated in graded alcohol, transferred to isoamyl acetate, and then dried by the critical point dryer (Polaron E 3000). These dried tissues were coated with gold and observed with a scanning electron microscope (JSM-35C), The results were as follows: The apex of the common renal papilla was lined with simple columnar epithelium having many microvilli on its luminal surface. Lateral portion of the papilla was lined with stratified epithelium layers thick, and its superficial cells were microvillar cells having many microvilli. The epithelium lining the peripelvic column was layers thick. The superficial layer was made of the microvillar cells, but a few microplica cells were appeared in the region near the pelvic pouch. The epithelium of the pelvic pouch was layered transitional type, and its superficial cells were microplica cells. The epithelia of the pelvis proper and ureter were layered transitional type, and their superficial cells were typical facet cells existing many round depressions and ridges of cell membranes of the luminal side.
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