The renal sympathetic system and juxtaglomerular cells in experimental renovascular hypertension.

Marked reduction of the monoaminergic nerve fluorescence and catecholamine tissue content were demonstrated in the ischemic kidney of rats made hypertensive by unilateral renal artery stenosis (two-kidney Goldblatt hypertension). The nonischemic kidney showed a normal degree of fluorescence and catecholamine content. The electron microscope failed to demonstrate recognizable nerves around most of the glomerular arterioles of the ischemic kidney, whereas a normal rich innervation was observed in the nonischemic side. The juxtaglomerular index and renal renin content were elevated in the ischemic kidney and markedly reduced in the nonischemic kidney. Juxtaglomerular cells were present in the glomerular mesangium and ultrastructurally showed changes consistent with increased renin synthesis. The extent of disruption of the sympathetic system in renal hypertension might play a role in the degree of hypersecretory response of the juxtaglomerular cells to renal artery constriction.