Dynamics of calcitonin gene-related peptide-like cells changes in the lungs of two-kidney, one-clip rats

Abstract

Taking into consideration renal hypertension-induced homeostatic disorders and the key role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in many, systemic functions regulating systems, a question arises as to what an extent arterial hypertension affects the morphology and dynamics of pulmonary CGRP-immunopositive cell changes. The aim of the present study was to examine the distribution, morphology and dynamics of changes of CGRP-containing cells in the lungs of rats in the two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) renovascular hypertension model. The studies were carried out on the lungs of rats after 3, 14, 28, 42, and 91 days long period from the renal artery clipping procedure. In order to identify neuroendocrine cells, immunohistochemical reaction was performed with the use of a specific antibody against CGRP. It was revealed that renovascular hypertension caused changes in the neuroendocrine, CGRP-containing cells in the lungs of rats. The changes, observed in the neuroendocrine cells, depended on time periods from experimentally induced hypertension. The highest intensity of changes in the neuroendocrine cells was observed in the lungs of rats after 14 days from the surgery.

Figure 1

Single cell containing CGRP in the lung of control rat. Scale bar: 100 µm.

Figure 2

Small few-cell clusters of NE cells with CGRP expression in rat lungs after three days from left renal artery clipping. Scale bar: 100 µm.

Figure 3

A) Multicellular clusters of PNE cells with strong CGRP expression in the cytoplasm; scale bar: 100 µm. B) Rat lungs after 14 days from the left renal artery clipping; scale bar: 50 µm.

Figure 4

CGRP immunolabelling in the cytoplasm of NE cells (dark-colored granules) in the lung of 2K1C rat after 28 days from clipping. Scale bar: 100 µm.

Figure 5

CGRP-immunopositive cells in the lung of 2K1C rat after 42 days from clipping. Scale bar: 100 µm.