Cholinergic Innervation of the Autotransplanted Canine Kidney

The degeneration of acetylcholinesterase-positive nerve fibers in 11 canine renal autotransplants was investigated with the thiocholine method of Karnovsky and Roots as modified for cryostat sections. Seven renal hila were also examined by silver impregnation and thiocholine techniques. Total denervation was demonstrated in only 3 of 11 autotransplants; the other 8 showed variable degrees of degeneration, from almost total to very little. Acetylcholinesterasepositive nerve fibers accompanied the renal, interlobar, arcuate, and interlobular arteries and the afferent arterioles and vasa recta. Acetylcholinesterase activity was apparent in glomeruli but was greatly diminished or abolished by renal perfusion with normal saline before histologic procedures were begun. Discrete autonomic ganglia were seen in the renal hila. We believe these acetylcholinesterase-positive ganglion cells (also found scattered along hilar nerve bundles) are the source of the nerve fibers which remain intact and viable following vascular division during transplantation.