title: Sympathetic reinnervation of rat kidney grafts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reinnervation occurs in many transplanted tissues and organs. Sympathetic reinnervation in rat kidney grafts was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were syngeneically transplanted with a kidney and bilaterally nephrectomized. Reinnervation was assessed by immunohistochemical staining for neuron-specific protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and by tissue norepinephrine measurements in grafts removed 1.5 (n=6), 3 (n=7), 6 (n=8), and 9 (n=7) months after transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PGP 9.5-positive neural structures were significantly reduced in grafts removed 1.5 and 3 months after transplantation compared with native kidneys with slightly increased numbers at 6 and 9 months after transplantation. Median transplant norepinephrine concentrations remained at approximately 3% compared with native kidneys until 9 months after transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In transplanted rat kidneys, some reinnervation occurs in the hilum within 9 months after transplantation. This is not accompanied by a significant recovery of norepinephrine concentration in renal tissue indicating persistent sympathetic denervation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Greifswald, Greifswalder Strasse 11c, D-17495 Karlsburg, Germany.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Grisk
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gröne
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rettig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011184:Postoperative Period; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D012016:Reference Values; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009638:Norepinephrine