Histological Features of the Renal Arteries in Indian Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)

Abstract

Histological features of renal arteries of pig revealed a typical muscular artery structure with three layers within outwards viz., tunica intima, media and adventitia. Sub-endothelial connective tissue was minimal and limited by clear undulating internal elastic membrane. Tunica media in all three renal arterial segments i.e., proximal, middle and distal from aorta to the renal hilus. Around twenty rows of smooth muscle cells were arranged in circular fashion in tunica media. Their outer boundary was limited by fragmented thin wavy outer elastic membrane. Tunica adventitia comprised predominantly collagen and few elastic fibres which encroached into margins of tunica media and formed a circular out line around longitudinal bundles of smooth muscle. The outer elastic membrane was split into more than one row in distal segments and was seen coursing in between layers of smooth muscle.