A new protocol for the measurement of picomole quantities of magnesium in rat renal tubular fluid

In vivo and ex vivo analysis of tubule function

Analysis of tubule function with in vivo and ex vivo approaches has been instrumental in revealing renal physiology. This work allows assignment of functional significance to known gene products expressed along the nephron, primary of which are proteins involved in electrolyte transport and regulation of these transporters. Not only we have learned much about the key roles played by these transport proteins and their proper regulation in normal physiology but also the combination of contemporary molecular biology and molecular genetics with in vivo and ex vivo analysis opened a new era of discovery informative about the root causes of many renal diseases. The power of in vivo and ex vivo analysis of tubule function is that it preserves the native setting and control of the tubule and proteins within tubule cells enabling them to be investigated in a "real-life" environment with a high degree of precision. In vivo and ex vivo analysis of tubule function continues to provide a powerful experimental outlet for testing, evaluating, and understanding physiology in the context of the novel information provided by sequencing of the human genome and contemporary genetic screening. These tools will continue to be a mainstay in renal laboratories as this discovery process continues and as we continue to identify new gene products functionally compromised in renal disease.

Micropuncturing the nephron

To achieve the role of the kidney in maintaining body homeostasis, the renal vasculature, the glomeruli, and the various segments of the nephron and the collecting duct system have to fulfill very diverse and specific functions. These functions are dependent on a complex renal architecture and are regulated by systemic hemodynamics, hormones, and nerves. As a consequence, to better understand the physiology of the kidney, methods are necessary that allow insights on the function of these diverse structures in the physiological context of the intact kidney. The renal micropuncture technique allows direct access to study superficial nephrons in vivo. In this review, the application of micropuncture techniques on the single nephron level is outlined as an approach to better understand aspects of glomerular filtration, tubular transport, and tubulo-glomerular communication. Studies from the author's lab, including experiments in gene-targeted mice, are briefly presented to illustrate some of the approaches and show how they can further advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of kidney function.