Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Biology
Date of Award
8-2017
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Donald B. Hoover
Committee Members
Thomas C. Jones, Tammy R. Ozment
Abstract
Sympathetic nerves are important for renal physiology and sepsis pathophysiology. A recent study showed sprouting of sympathetic nerves in spleen of septic mice. This study was done to test if renal sprouting of sympathetic nerves also happens and to investigate renal morphology in septic mice. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used to induce sepsis and kidneys were removed for evaluation. Bowman’s space was diminished with cortical bubble cells present suggestive of acute renal pathology, however, renal function was unchanged. Acute sepsis did not affect either renal sympathetic innervation or non-neuronal cholinergic cells. Mouse kidneys had more epinephrine (EPI) than norepinephrine (NE) in both groups. This is most likely due to uptake of epinephrine by renal sympathetic nerves and may have no correlation with sepsis. In conclusion, septic mice showed minor renal pathology and no evidence of acute sympathetic nerve sprouting. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism and consequences of elevated EPI in mice kidney.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Alkhateeb, Tuqa, "Effects of Acute Sepsis on Renal Structure and Sympathetic Innervation in Mice" (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3299. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3299
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
Animals Commons, Biology Commons, Infectious Disease Commons, Nephrology Commons, Pathology Commons