Studies of end-stage kidneys. III. Glycogen deposition in interstitial cells of the renal medulla.

Examination of kidneys of ten patients with uremia and severe hypertension treated by chronic intermittent hemodialysis revealed a deposition of glycogen within interstitial cells of the renal medulla. This is unlike any described renal distribution of glycogen. Electron microscopic studies performed in one case demonstrated monoparticulate glycogen both diffuse in the interstitial cell cytoplasm and locally aggregated beside lipid droplets. The findings provide evidence for a metabolic abnormality of renal medullary interstitial cells in patients who have protracted uremia.