Histochemistry of the metanephros in the golden hamster. II. The adult ureter.

Adult ureter epithelium of the golden hamster is found to be multilayered but not stratified. All epithelial cells are in contact with the basement membrane and thereby get into close vicinity to the underlying dense capillary network of the lamina propria. By this diffusion distances for nutritial fluids are kept very short. As can be seen from high glycoproteid and glycolipid content as well as high SDH, G6PDH and LDH activities, superficial cells are higher differentiated than intermediate and basal cells where enzyme activities and concentrations of glycoproteids and glycolipids are always found to be lower. From low RNA-concentrations in all layers of ureter epithelium, high G6PDH activity and glycolipid content, it is concluded that pentose-phosphate cycle primarily functions as donator of reduced NADP for lipid synthesis. Dual presence of SDH and LDH activities in ureter epithelium is seen in hypothetical connection with periods of changing oxygen supply caused by ureter peristalsis. Small amounts of glycogen are metabolically rather inactive as revealed by low or absent phosphorylase and UDPGGT activities.