Comparative physiology and architecture associated with the mammalian urine concentrating mechanism: role of inner medullary water and urea transport pathways in the rodent medulla

Comparative studies of renal structure and function have potential to provide insights into the urine-concentrating mechanism of the mammalian kidney. This review focuses on the tubular transport pathways for water and urea that play key roles in fluid and solute movements between various compartmen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology integrative and comparative physiology, 2013-04, Vol.304 (7), p.R488-R503
Main Author: Pannabecker, Thomas L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological Transport - physiology
Comparative studies
Gene expression
Kidney Medulla - anatomy & histology
Kidney Medulla - blood supply
Kidney Medulla - physiology
Kidneys
Nephrons - anatomy & histology
Nephrons - blood supply
Nephrons - physiology
Physiology
Rodentia - anatomy & histology
Rodentia - physiology
Rodents
Special Topic
Urea - metabolism
Urine
Urology
Water - metabolism
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Summary:Comparative studies of renal structure and function have potential to provide insights into the urine-concentrating mechanism of the mammalian kidney. This review focuses on the tubular transport pathways for water and urea that play key roles in fluid and solute movements between various compartments of the rodent renal inner medulla. Information on aquaporin water channel and urea transporter expression has increased our understanding of functional segmentation of medullary thin limbs of Henle's loops, collecting ducts, and vasa recta. A more complete understanding of membrane transporters and medullary architecture has identified new and potentially significant interactions between these structures and the interstitium. These interactions are now being introduced into our concept of how the inner medullary urine-concentrating mechanism works. A variety of regulatory pathways lead directly or indirectly to variable patterns of fluid and solute movements among the interstitial and tissue compartments. Animals with the ability to produce highly concentrated urine, such as desert species, are considered to exemplify tubular structure and function that optimize urine concentration. These species may provide unique insights into the urine-concentrating process.(1)
ISSN:0363-6119
1522-1490
DOI:10.1152/ajpregu.00456.2012