title: Measuring dynamic kidney function in an undergraduate physiology laboratory.
abstract: Most undergraduate physiology laboratories are very limited in how they treat renal physiology. It is common to find teaching laboratories equipped with the capability for high-resolution digital recordings of physiological functions (muscle twitches, ECG, action potentials, respiratory responses, etc.), but most urinary laboratories still rely on a "dipstick" approach of urinalysis. Although this technique can provide some basic insights into the functioning of the kidneys, it overlooks the dynamic processes of filtration, reabsorption, and secretion. In the present article, we provide a straightforward approach of using renal clearance measurements to estimate glomerular filtration rate, fractional water reabsorption, glucose clearance, and other physiologically relevant parameters. The estimated values from our measurements in laboratory are in close agreement with those anticipated based on textbook parameters. For example, we found glomerular filtration rate to average 124 ± 45 ml/min, serum creatinine to be 1.23 ± 0.4 mg/dl, and fractional water reabsorption to be ∼96.8%. Furthermore, analyses for the class data revealed significant correlations between parameters like fractional water reabsorption and urine concentration, providing opportunities to discuss urine concentrating mechanisms and other physiological processes. The procedures outlined here are general enough that most undergraduate physiology laboratory courses should be able to implement them without difficulty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, State University of New York, Fredonia, New York.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Medler
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Harrington
mesh_terms: D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007753:Laboratories; D008145:Louisiana; D010827:Physiology / Q000193:education*
keywords: glomerular filtration rate; kidney; renal clearance; undergraduate laboratory