A novel role for uroguanylin in the regulation of sodium balance.
Uroguanylin is a peptide hormone that regulates sodium excretion by the kidney when excess NaCl is consumed. A new study demonstrates that mice deficient in uroguanylin have blunted urinary sodium excretion responses to oral sodium loads in addition to elevated blood pressure (see related article beginning on page 1244). A physiological role for uroguanylin is discussed, linking the intestine and kidney in an endocrine axis for the maintenance of sodium balance.
Forte
Leonard R
LR
Medical Research Service, Truman Memorial Veterans Administration Hospital and Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Institute, Columbia, Missouri, USA. lrf@missouri.edu
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides; D010455:Peptides; C072685:guanylin; C084362:uroguanylin; D012964:Sodium