Electrolyte Blood Press.  2006 Mar;4(1):1-7. 10.5049/EBP.2006.4.1.1.

Nitric Oxide Synthesis in the Adult and Developing Kidney

• Han KH
• Jung JY
• Chung KY
• Kim H
• Kim J

• KMID: 2052263
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5049/EBP.2006.4.1.1

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized within the adult and developing kidney and plays a critical role in the regulation of renal hemodynamics and tubule function. In the adult kidney, the regulation of NO synthesis is very cell type specific and subject to distinct control mechanisms of NO synthase (NOS) isoforms. Endothelial NOS (eNOS) is expressed in the endothelial cells of glomeruli, peritubular capillaries, and vascular bundles. Neuronal NOS (nNOS) is expressed in the tubular epithelial cells of the macula densa and inner medullary collecting duct. Furthermore, in the immature kidney, the expression of eNOS and nNOS shows unique patterns distinct from that is observed in the adult. This review will summarize the localization and presumable function of NOS isoforms in the adult and developing kidney.

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Capillaries
Endothelial Cells
Epithelial Cells
Hemodynamics
Humans
Kidney*
Neurons
Nitric Oxide Synthase
Nitric Oxide*
Protein Isoforms
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase
Protein Isoforms

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Strong eNOS immunoreactivity is present in the vascular bundles (arrows) in the inner stripe of outer medulla (IS) and inner medulla (IM) (A). Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that medullary eNOS is proportionately greater than cortical eNOS in the adult kidney (B). Cx, cortex; OS, outer stripe of outer medulla. Magnifications: ×15.

• 

  Fig. 2 Light micrographs of 50-µ-thick vibratome sections from a 3-day-old rat kidney illustrating immunostaining for eNOS. Strong eNOS immunoreactivity is observed in the endothelial cells (arrows) of the immature glomerulus (A). The endothelial cells (arrows) in the medulla show less intense labeling than in the cortex (B). Magnifications : ×480.

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