BACKGROUND Renal denervation is optimised when guided by knowledge of nerve distribution. AIMS We aimed to assess sympathetic nerve distribution along the renal arteries, especially in post-bifurcation vessel segments. METHODS Renal arteries and surrounding tissue from 10 body donors were collected and examined histologically. Immunohistochemical staining was used to analyse nerve distribution and to identify afferent and efferent sympathetic nerves. RESULTS A total of 6,781 nerves surrounding 18 renal arteries were evaluated. The mean lumen-nerve distance of the left renal artery (2.32±1.95 mm) was slightly greater than the right (2.29±2.03 mm; p=0.161); this varied across the arteries' courses: 3.7±2.3 mm in proximal segments, 2.5±2.0 mm in middle segments, 1.9±1.6 mm in distal prebifurcation segments and 1.3±1.0 mm in post-bifurcation segments (p<0.001). The number of nerves per quadrant was highest in the proximal segments (13.7±18.6), followed by the middle (9.7±7.9), distal prebifurcation (8.0±7.6), and distal post-bifurcation (4.3±4.0) segments (p<0.001). Circumferentially, the number of nerves was highest in the superior (7.8±9.4) and the ventral (7.6±13.1) quadrants (p=0.638). The mean tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) ratio increased from proximal (37.5±33.5) to distal (72.0±7.2 in the post-bifurcation segments; p<0.001). Thirty-eight neuroganglia were identified along 14 (78%) renal arteries. CONCLUSIONS Nerves converge to the renal arteries' lumen in the distal segments and along branches, resulting in the lowest number of nerves per quadrant and the shortest lumen-nerve distance in the distal post-bifurcation segments. Efferent nerves occur predominantly, and the ratio of efferent to afferent nerves continues to increase in the vessels' course.

中文翻译：

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人体肾神经分布、密度和功能的组织学检查。

背景技术当在神经分布知识的指导下，肾去神经术得到优化。目的 我们的目的是评估交感神经沿肾动脉的分布，特别是在分叉后的血管段。方法 采集 10 名遗体捐献者的肾动脉及周围组织并进行组织学检查。免疫组织化学染色用于分析神经分布并识别传入和传出交感神经。结果 总共评估了 18 根肾动脉周围的 6,781 根神经。左肾动脉的平均管腔-神经距离（2.32±1.95 mm）略大于右肾动脉（2.29±2.03 mm；p=0.161）；这在动脉走行中有所不同：近端节段为 3.7±2.3 mm，中间节段为 2.5±2.0 mm，远端分叉前节段为 1.9±1.6 mm，分叉后节段为 1.3±1.0 mm（p<0.001）。每个象限的神经数量在近端节段最多（13.7±18.6），其次是中节段（9.7±7.9）、远端分叉前节段（8.0±7.6）和远端分叉后节段（4.3±4.0）（p< 0.001）。从圆周方向看，上象限（7.8±9.4）和腹侧（7.6±13.1）象限的神经数量最多（p=0.638）。平均酪氨酸羟化酶（TH）与降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）的比率从近端（37.5±33.5）到远端（分叉后节段为72.0±7.2；p<0.001）增加。沿着 14 条 (78%) 肾动脉发现了 38 个神经节。结论 神经在远端节段和沿着分支汇聚到肾动脉管腔，导致远端分叉后节段中每个象限的神经数量最少，管腔-神经距离最短。传出神经占主导地位，并且传出神经与传入神经的比例在血管走行中持续增加。