Abstract-Experiments were performed to determine the importance of activation or infiltration of immune cells in the kidney during the development of hypertension and renal disease in Dahl salt-sensitive rats (SS/Mcw) fed a 4.0% NaCl diet. Compared with vehicle-treated rats, chronic administration of mycophenolate mofetil ([MMF] 30 mg/kg per day, IP), an immunosuppressive agent that has cytostatic effects on T and B cells, decreased cell-specific markers of T and B cells by 50% to 60% in the kidneys of SS/Mcw rats (nϭ5 per group). Further studies were performed on Dahl SS/Mcw rats, which were instrumented with chronic indwelling catheters and studied after 3 weeks on the 4.0% NaCl diet. Rats were administered MMF or 5% dextrose vehicle daily during the 3-week period of high NaCl intake. Mean arterial blood pressure in the rats administered MMF (122Ϯ2 mm Hg; nϭ11) was significantly decreased compared with vehicle-treated rats (139Ϯ4 mm Hg; nϭ9). Furthermore, the rate of protein (112Ϯ13 mg per day) and albumin excretion (15Ϯ3 mg per day) in the MMF-treated rats was significantly lower than the protein and albumin excretion rate in vehicle-treated rats (167Ϯ25 and 31Ϯ7 mg per day, respectively).

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Floyd II tracheal agenesis with fistula (arrow) and after esophagocarinoplasty (right). Central Message Tracheal agenesis survival requires regional relationships, an innovative multidisciplinary approach, and family-centered care.

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