The aorticorenal ganglion and its role in renal innervation

Abstract

A detailed dissection of the renal plexus and the aorticorenal area was carried out in 57 adult cadavers (32 males and 25 females). This study showed that the aorticorenal ganglia may be located anywhere in the general area of the junction of the renal arteries with the aorta. These ganglia were found to be partly fused with the celiac ganglion in 4% on the right side and in 12% on the left. All three thoracic splanchnic nerves (greater, lesser, and least) may have rami which terminate in the sorticorenal ganglia. The least splanchnic terminated in the aorticorenal ganglion more often than the other nerves when the ganglion was located inferior to the renal artery. In this location, the first lumbar splanchnic nerve also may terminate in the aorticorenal ganglion. The aorticorenal ganglia also had connections with the renal plexus, inermesenteric nerves, celiac and superior mesenteric plexuses, adrenal gland, and possibly with the spermatic and ovarian plexuses through the renal plexus. By using the silver impregnation technique of Holmes, we found the aorticorenal ganglia to have a role in renal innervation. When these ganglia were unilaterally removed from a series of 14 cats, a definite reduction of neme fibers associated with the tubules of the renal cortex, and to a lesser extent, with the renal blood vessels, was observed. Most nerve endings were associated with the proximal convoluted tubules, but a few were observed in the glomeruli.Interest in renal innervation has increased in recent years; the aorticorenal ganglia and their connections with this innervation, however, have been largely neglected. Although these ganglia apparently are present in the majority of humans, there is no detailed description of their location, principal connections, and role in renal innervation.Mitchell ('50) has exhaustively reviewed the literature pertinent to the extrinsic nerve supply to the kidney and the intrinsic renal nerves ('51); therefore an extensive review of the literature will not be made prior to 1950.According to Mitchell ('50), Willis (1664) was probably the first to illustrate the connections between the thoracic nerves and the aorticorenal (or possibly renal) ganglia. Since that time there has been a controversy regarding the terminations of these nerves. De Sousa Pereira ('46) found that the least splanchnic nerve "extends toward the origin of the renal artery and almost always terminates in the aorticorenal ganglion" (italics mine). Kuntz ('56) stated that the least splanchnic nerve usually terminates in the posterior J. COMP. NEUK 137 301-112 renal ganglion, but "rarely terminates in the aorticorenal ganglion" (italics mine). Maillet ('60) studied the nerve fibers present in the kidney following the chemical destruction of the aorticorenal ganglion, renal artery plexus, and ureter. He did not discuss the location of the aorticorenal ganglia.In proportion of their size, the kidneys have been said to receive a more abundant nerve supply than any other abdominal viscera, except the adrenals. There ...

Electrical Stimulation of Vascular Autonomic Nerves: Effects on Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Arrhythmias

“…In this regard, Pokushalov et al found that high‐frequency ES delivered at the ostium of the targeted RA at a frequency of 20 Hz, with an amplitude of 15 V and pulse duration of 10 ms, caused a sudden increase of BP by a mean of 30 mm Hg. These physiological findings are consistent with the anatomical findings of Mizeres and Norvell, demonstrating the presence of the ARG. A recent report also confirmed the presence of the ARGs and a higher sympathetic nerve density at the junction of the aorta and RAs .…”

“…[1][2][3][4]19 It should be noted that the autonomic anatomy of the renal nerves shows important differences between dog and man. In the elegant studies of Mizeres on the anatomy of the autonomic nervous system in dog, 8 Norvell 20 found that, in a study of 57 adult human cadavers, the ARG is located in or around the ostia of the RAs and aorta. It is of interest that stimulation of the ARG and at the RA adventitia with the same ES parameters induced a much greater mean hypertensive effect at the former (207 ± 44/147 ± 26 mm Hg) than at the latter (157 ± 26/114 ± 18 mm Hg).…”

Atropine Influence on Altered Hemodynamics of the Primate Kidney in Hemorrhagic Shock

“…Shvalev (1 1) also observed the consistent localization of ganglia subcapsularly in the canine kidney. The preganglionic fibers, which course through the renal plexus, are probably thoracolumbar in origin ( 16). The possibility of a craniosacral contribution was considered by Shvalev, who also allowed for the possibility of free-lying intramural ganglion cells.…”

“…Although atropine action at the ganglionic level is not ordinarily accepted, this seems possible at the dosage given by the intraarterial route (1 5 ) . The probable sites would be the aorticorenal ganglia, which supply postganglionic adrenergic constrictor fibers to the kidney vasculature via the renal plexus (16). The transient fall in blood pressure during atropine infusion indicated that this was probably a rather widespread systemic effect , affecting other sympathetic, preganglionic fibers, innervating arterioles of the systemic vasculature with adrenergic postganglionic vasoconstrictur fibers, An added possibility is that atropine, in the dosage given, depressed the function of the neurons of the vasoconstrictor centers of the medulla (17).…”

Cholinergic Innervation of the Autotransplanted Canine Kidney

“…Knowledge regarding the intrinsic innervation of the kidney was based for years on experiments using various standard nervestaining techniques, particularly silver impregnation and methylene blue (1)(2)(3)(4). Recently, there have been several reports on the application of newer histochemical methods to the study of renal innervation.…”