Evidence for dopamine-containing renal nerves

The existence of the specific renal DA1 postsynaptic receptor for dopamine (DA) has prompted the search for a counterpart dopaminergic innervation. In the canine kidney there is an increased proportion of DA as a percentage of norepinephrine (NE), and both NE and DA are lost after chronic denervation. In the rat and dog, renal stimulation increases the net secretion of both NE and DA; renal denervation eliminates NE but only partially reduces DA secretion. Histological techniques have identified DA-containing neuronal elements in the kidney. Thus there is growing evidence for a prejunctional dopaminergic counterpart to the DA1 receptor.