Analysis of the functional morphology of the renal sympathetic nerve terminals and their pathophysiological changes

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K06415
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 46020:Anatomy and histopathology of nervous system-related
• Research Institution: Hyogo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Seishi Maeda 兵庫医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (10309445)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 腎臓 / 交感神経 / シュワン細胞 / 自律神経系 / 組織化学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Focusing on the characteristic morphology of Schwann cells in renal sympathetic nerve endings, we conducted morphological analysis of nerve terminal-Schwann cell-arterial smooth muscle, and searched for adhesion molecules involved in their construction. On the arterioles, unlike on the basal of the renal tubular regions, the nerve endings of the Schwann cell processes covering the axonal varicosities were open to the target side like a window. In addition, the distribution of NG2/CSPG4 which was picked up from the list based on the RNA expression of rat Schwann cells IFRS1 cells was examined by the immunohistochemistry and the immune-electron microscopy. As the result, the localization of NG2/CSPG4 was absent near the terminal Schwann cell window and was characterized by compositions of adhesion molecules. These results suggest that the composition of adhesion molecules supporting the tripartite synaptic architecture may influence the renal sympathetic nerve functions.

Free Research Field

神経解剖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

腎臓を支配する交感神経は全身性の血圧や体液浸透圧の調節に重要である。また病理的には交感神経の活動亢進により組織炎症の拡大や間質線維化を誘発し、腎機能低下をまねく。しかしながら糸球体や尿細管を含む複雑な構成をもつ腎臓組織において、交感神経の活動を制御する支持細胞の機能は不明であった。本研究は腎交感神経のシュワン細胞がその形態的特徴により腎機能調節へ関与することを示唆したものであり、ここで得られた基礎データがさらに病理的解析に発展していき、最終的には臨床的にも重要な知見が得られることが期待される。