Transitory inner medullary nerve terminals in the cat kidney.
An indirect immunohistochemical method was used to visualize nerves immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase (THI) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBHI) in kidney sections of cats 6 weeks and 2 and 3 months of age. THI and DBHI nerve terminals innervate the renal pelvis, interlobar veins and arterial tree including medullary vascular bundles of cats of each age studied. In kidneys of 6-week-old cats, THI and DBHI axons form elaborate plexuses that are distributed throughout much of the inner medulla, whereas some medullary axons appear to degenerate at 2 months and no inner medullary plexuses were visualized in 3-month-old cats. Transitory inner medullary nerves in the cat kidney may influence cellular development and play a role in salt and water balance.
Knight
D S
DS
Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Shreveport.
Russell
H W
HW
Cicero
S R
SR
Beal
J A
JA
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002415:Cats; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007679:Kidney Medulla / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis
D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase