Ultrastructural localization and characterization of sensory nerves in the rat kidney

The ultrastructural localization of sensory nerves in the rat kidney was examined by using the chromaffin reaction to distinguish sympathetic catecholaminergic fibres from sensory fibres. The sensory fibres were further characterized by use of an immunoperoxidase staining method to identify nerves immunoreactive for substance P and for calcitonin-gene-related peptide. Sympathetic fibres were observed in the renal cortex, medulla, and pelvis, but sensory fibres were seen only in the renal pelvis. Immunostaining for substance P labelled 40% of the sensory fibres. Following incubation in calcitonin-gene-related peptide antiserum, 53% of the sensory nerves were positively stained. Simultaneous immunostaining for substance P and calcitonin-gene-related peptide resulted in immunoreactivity in 82% of the sensory fibres, a percentage of axons significantly lower than that expected if the axons containing each peptide had been entirely separate populations. The results indicate that sensory nerves in the rat kidney are located entirely in the renal pelvis. On the basis of their neuropeptide content, there appear to be at least four separate populations of sensory axons present: two large groups containing substance P or calcitonin-gene-related peptide alone and two small groups containing both peptides and containing neither.