Urine Concentrating Mechanism and Urea Transporters.
- Author:
Dong Un KIM
1
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. dukim@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Countercurrent multiplication;
Water;
NaCl;
Urea
- MeSH:
Carrier Proteins;
Clone Cells;
Extremities;
Recycling;
Urea*;
Water
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Pediatric Nephrology
2005;9(1):1-7
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The production of concentrated urine is achieved by countercurrent multiplication in the renal medulla. The single effect of the outer medulla is the active NaCl reabsorption in the thick ascending limb, while the single effect of the inner medulla is the passive efflux of NaCl through the thin ascending limb. The passive mechanism in the inner medulla requires a high interstitial urea concentration which is maintained by intrarenal recycling of urea. During the past decade, many transport proteins involved in the urine concentrating mechanism have been cloned, which has enabled us to understand the countercurrent multiplication mechanism on a molecular basis. This review will summarize the locations and functions of the renal medullary transport proteins, and the recent insights that have been acquired into the long term regulation of urea transporters.
