A microsurgical method for experimental kidney denervation

A successful microsurgical method for denervation of the kidney in the rat is presented. Unilateral kidney denervation was performed in eight animals. Ten sham-operated animals were used as controls. Under ether anaesthesia, the kidney vessels on one side were exposed. The peritoneum above the vessels was incised and the area was stained with 1% toluidine blue solution. The nerves were identified. With microsurgical technique, the nerves were carefully separated from the vessels and resected. Tissue specimens from both kidneys in all animals were removed and analysed for norepinephrine content. There was no normal difference between the kidneys in the sham-operated rats. About 1 week after denervation, the norepinephrine concentration in the denervated kidney showed a 95% reduction, indicating a complete denervation. The described microsurgical procedure was a rapid, simple, and reproducible method for kidney denervation in the rat.