Nephrol Dial Transplant (2001) 16: 2127-2130
© 2001 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association
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The urinary concentrating mechanism: a model of integrative physiology
Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Départment de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, CEA-Saclay, France
Introduction
One of the most efficient water conservation mechanisms in mammals is the ability of the kidneys to produce concentrated urine for the elimination of waste products while losing a minimum of water. Depending on the food supply of differing animals, components of the glomerular ultrafiltrate are concentrated in the final urine to different extents. For example, carnivorous animals preferentially eliminate urea, the waste product of protein metabolism, whereas herbivores concentrate potassium but conserve urea as nitrogen source of protein synthesis, and marine mammals concentrate salt ingested from sea water. Thus, although there are differences in the underlying renal mechanisms, the general organization of these systems is similar in all mammals, including humans.
The urinary concentrating mechanism: general picture
In 1942, Kühn and Ryffel [1] first proposed that a small concentration difference between two compartments would be multiplied in a counter-current system if the membranes separating the compartments had the required permeabilities. Each mammalian nephron possesses a
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