Glomerulotubular balance, tubuloglomerular feedback, and salt homeostasis.
The homeostasis of NaCl is critical to complex organisms with closed blood systems. Kidneys regulate this salt excretion by modulating the rapport between glomeruli and tubules. The tubules respond to glomeruli with glomerulotubular balance, whereas glomeruli respond to tubules through tubuloglomerular feedback. These relationships are dynamic, mysterious, and amenable to mathematical analyses. The biology underlining what is known about these interactions is observational, fragmentary, and somewhat inconclusive. Discussed here is a simple tethering of these interrelated concepts.
Thomson
Scott C
SC
Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology-Hypertension, University of California San Diego, and VA San DiegoHealthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
Blantz
Roland C
RC
D000818:Animals; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009399:Nephrons / Q000502:physiology; D012492:Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism*
D012492:Salts; D012965:Sodium Chloride