Localization of kallikrein in the rat kidney and its anatomical relationship to renin.

The anatomical relationship between kallikrein and renin in the rat kidney was investigated immunohistochemically by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. Kallikrein was localized to the convoluted distal tubule, starting at a point, distal to the juxtaglomerular apparatus, where the thick ascending limb of loop of Henle transformed into the convoluted distal tubule. The thick ascending limb was identified by its content of uromucoid (Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein). Kallikrein was never observed within the juxtaglomerular apparatus itself. The kallikrein-containing tubule ended where the distal tubule submerged into the collecting duct. Renin was found in epitheloid cells of the afferent arteriole. When neighboring sections were stained for kallikrein and renin, respectively, no close anatomical relationship was observed between the kallikrein-containing and the renin-containing structures.