Xulin Li1,2,3,4 · Yuan Zhou1,2,3,4 · Feng Wang1,2,3 · Liping Wang1,2,31 Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Modulation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
2 CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
3 Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
4 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
Abstract
The kidneys are essential organs that help maintain homeostasis, and their function is regulated by the neural system. Despite the anatomical multi-synaptic connection between the central autonomic nuclei and the kidneys, it remains unclear whether there are any variations in neural connections between the nervous systems and the renal cortex and medulla in male and female mice. Here, we used the pseudorabies virus to map the central innervation network of the renal cortex and medulla in both sexes. The data revealed that specific brain regions displayed either a contralateral-bias or ipsilateral-bias pattern while kidney-innervating neurons distributed symmetrically in the midbrain and hindbrain. Sex differences were observed in the distribution of neurons connected to the left kidney, as well as those connected to the renal cortex and medulla. Our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the brain-kidney network in both males and females and may help shed light on gender differences in kidney function and disease susceptibility in humans.
Keywords
Kidney innervation; Sexual dimorphism; Pseudorabies virus; Central neural system
