Renal glomerulography in fourfold magnification.

Selective renal angiogrgphy in 7 patients with normal kidneys, taken in fourfold magnification, using a special X-ray tube with a very fine focal spot less than 0.05 mm in diameter, revealed numerous small linear shadows of interlobular arteries accompanied with small granular punctiform shadows of glomeruli in the cortex, as well as in the medulla. In order to obtain the glomerular phase of opacification after injection of contrast media through the Odman's green cathter, serial angiograms were taken with one film per second for 5 to 10 seconds. Similar small granular punctiform shadows were seen in magnified angiograms using the same technique in the kidney of a living dog. These shadows were verified, by means of microangiography, to be glomeruli and interlobular arteries. In 1964, the possibility was first postulated7>, to visualize the renal glomeruli by using renal arteriography in four-fold roentgenographic magnification and later verified histologically. This work was reported in 19663>. In this communication, some of the experimental works are rewritten and more convincing glomerulograms of normal human kidneys are illustrated. The term "Glomerulography" was first used by T. Takaro16>. The glomerulogram is distinguished as a particular phase of renal vascular opacification from renal arteriogram, nephrogram and phlebogram. Therefore, the term "Glomerulography" is especially suitable when the object of angiography is aimed at radiography of glomeruli, because a glomerulogram is a part of renal arteriography. I. EXPERIMENTAL GLOMERULOGRAPHY Materials a11d Methods Healthy mongrel dogs weighing from 3 to 5 kg. were anesthetized by intravenous administration of pentobarbital sodium, 30 mg. per kg. of body weight. The trachea was intubated so as to control the respiration and to ~ 'f· I§ :it. {j:::X_F,9Pff Received for publication February 2, 1972. * Professor of Radiology, Nagoya City University School of Medicine.