Significant depletion of NPY in the innervation of the rat mesenteric, renal arteries and kidneys in experimentally (aorta coarctation) induced hypertension.

The distribution and concentrations of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in kidneys, renal arteries, heart, aorta, mesenteric artery and adrenal glands from aorta-ligated hypertensive rats were studied by immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay. Immunocytochemistry showed that in the hypertensive animals NPY-immunoreactive fibres were decreased in both kidney and renal artery, above and below the ligation, and in mesenteric arteries. The depletion of NPY-containing nerves in the kidney was more pronounced around the juxtaglomerular apparatus than in other areas of the organ. By radioimmunoassay, the concentrations of NPY immunoreactivity were significantly lower in the hypertensive animals when compared with the controls, (kidney: hypertensive 1.0 +/- 0.1; controls 2.0 +/- 0.2 pmol/g, mean +/- SEM; p less than 0.05 renal artery: hypertensive 5.0 +/- 0.8; controls 12.1 +/- 2.0; p less than 0.05 and mesenteric artery: hypertensive 8.6 +/- 1.9; 17.6 +/- 3.0; p less than 0.01). While there were no statistically significant changes in the levels of NPY immunoreactivity in the other areas studied, there was a general trend for the level to fall in the renal artery below the ligation (hypertensive 10.6 +/- 1.5; control 15.3 +/- 2.4; p greater than 0.05). It is of interest that changes were observed in the vasoconstrictor peptide NPY in this commonly used model of hypertension.