Cell kinetics and tissue contraction following renal parenchymal cell death

SUMMARY: The kinetics of interstitial extracellular matrix remodelling in the kidney following parenchymal cell death were studied after injury was produced by a single application of liquid nitrogen to the surface of the kidney. the size of the injury decreased to 30% of the original size at 4 days and to 5% at 16 days after injury. the primary response to injury consisted of an acute polymorphonuclear infiltration followed by monocyte/macrophage and myofibroblast accumulation from day 2 to 8. Collagen III accumulation increased progressively until day 16 and was inversely related to lesion size. These results demonstrate the time course of cellular events and collagen synthesis in renal tissue remodelling following renal parenchymal cell death.