Part I. Efferent renal sympathetic nerves
1. Introduction
2. Neuroanatomy
2.1 Neural pathways
2.2 Intrarenal distribution of efferent renal sympathetic nerves
2.3 Characteristics of the efferent renal sympathetic nerve signals
2.4 neurotransmitters
2.5 Adrenoceptors
2.6 Angiotensin II, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species
3. Neural control of renal hemodynamics
3.1 Measurements of renal blood flow
3.2 Renal denervation
3.3 Increases in renal sympathetic nerve activity
3.4 Adrenoceptors
4. Neural control of renal tubular function
4.1 Renal denervation
4.2 Increases in renal sympathetic nerve activity
4.2.1 Direct activation of the renal nerves
4.2.2 Reflex-mediated increases and decreases in the activation of the renal nerves
4.3 Adrenoceptors
4.4 Angiotensin
5. Neural control of renin secretion rate
5.1 Increases in efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity
5.2 Interaction between neural and non-neural mechanisms for renin secretion
5.3 Adrenoceptors


Part II. Afferent renal sensory nerves
6. Introduction
7. Neuroanatomy
7.1 Kidney
7.2 Renal sensory receptors
7.3 Projection to the central nervous system
8. Renorenal reflexes
8.1 Activation of afferent renal sensory nerves by physiological stimuli
8.2 Selective afferent renal denervation
8.3 Afferent renal reinnervation
8.4 Interaction between efferent and afferent renal nerve activity
9. Mechanisms involved in the activation of afferent renal sensory nerves
9.1 Substance P
9.2 Mechanisms contributing to the release of substance P from renal pelvic sensory nerves
9.2.1 PGE2
9.2.2 Bradykinin
9.2.3 Angiotensin II
9.2.4 Endothelin


Part III. Pathophysiological states
10. Efferent renal sympathetic and afferent renal nerves
10.1 Hypertension
10.2 Renal failure
10.3 Heart failure
11. Conclusions
References
Author biography.