title: Modeling transport in the kidney: investigating function and dysfunction.
abstract: Mathematical models of water and solute transport in the kidney have significantly expanded our understanding of renal function in both health and disease. This review describes recent theoretical developments and emphasizes the relevance of model findings to major unresolved questions and controversies. These include the fundamental processes by which urine is concentrated in the inner medulla, the ultrastructural basis of proteinuria, irregular flow oscillation patterns in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and the mechanisms underlying the hypotensive effects of thiazides. Macroscopic models of water, NaCl, and urea transport in populations of nephrons have served to test, confirm, or refute a number of hypotheses related to the urine concentrating mechanism. Other macroscopic models focus on the mechanisms, role, and irregularities of renal hemodynamic control and on the regulation of renal oxygenation. At the mesoscale, models of glomerular filtration have yielded significant insight into the ultrastructural basis underlying a number of disorders. At the cellular scale, models of epithelial solute transport and pericyte Ca2+ signaling are being used to elucidate transport pathways and the effects of hormones and drugs. Areas where further theoretical progress is conditional on experimental advances are also identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA. aurelie.edwards@tufts.edu
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017136:Ion Transport; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007671:Kidney Concentrating Ability; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008954:Models, Biological; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D012079:Renal Circulation; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014563:Urodynamics; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors; D010100:Oxygen