Comparative Physiology Of Renal Excretion

This second edition offers a comprehensive overview of the physiological functions of vertebrate kidneys from a comparative viewpoint, with particular emphasis on nonmammalian vertebrates. The topics covered include renal structure; glomerular ultrafiltration; tubular transport of inorganic ions, organic substances, and fluid; and urine dilution and concentration. Mammalian renal function is only considered for purposes of comparison with nonmammalian renal function and as a frame of reference for some of the discussions. The major findings on nonmammalian renal function and the important unanswered questions raised by those findings are described in detail. As such, the book provides comprehensive information on comparative renal function for biological scientists and advanced students of biology with some knowledge of physiology and a desire to know more about renal function in vertebrates, and for mammalian renal physiologists who wish to obtain a broader view of renal function.

/ 7 It is eleven years since the first edition of this book was published and six years since the second edition. There have been many advances in renal physiology over these years, a fact demonstrated by a comparison of the index of this new edition with that of 11 years ago. For example, words in the index of this edition which do not appear in the first edition include atrial natriuretic peptide, dopamine, erythropoietin, nitric oxide and prorenin. For this new edition, there are many completely new sections, includ ing a new chapter on tubular transport mechanisms, a section on the bladder and micturition and sections on the renal handling of magne sium, renal function in pregnancy and age-related changes in function. The accounts of renin synthesis, the actions of atrial natriuretic peptide and the mechanisms of ammonia secretion, have been rewritten and updated. The presentation of the book for this third edition is also new. The majority of the figures have been redrawn and 'boxes' have been included to present additional material (particularly information of clinical relevance), which can be read separately from the main text. The most popular features of the book - notably its cOllciseness and logical progression through renal physiology - have been retained.

This book is a collection of reviews on the renal transport of organic substances. The first chapters deal with general aspects of the topic. The following articles treat the present knowledge on the renal trans port of specific compounds or classes of organic substances, whereas the fmal chapter on comparative physiology deals with the renal trans port of organic substances in non-mammalian vertebrates. The articles of this volume were presented in an abbreviated form as introductory lectures at a recent Symposium on Renal Transport of Organic Substances. This conference was organized by Prof. Deetjen and the editors, and was held in Innsbruck, Austria, in July 1980 at the Department of Physiology of the University of Innsbruck. During this conference the authors of the free communications (published as abstracts ill Renal Physiology, 2 (3), pp 135-166 (1980) as well as Drs. C. Gottschalk, T. Hoshi, K.C. Huang, J.P. Kokko, Ch. de Rouffignac, K. Scharer, BM. Schmidt-Nielsen, and J.A. Young, who acted as chair persons at the meeting, were invaluable contributors to the discussions of the topics reviewed in this volume. We hope that the book will be of value to nephrologists, to renal physiologists, and to those who are involved in teaching physiology, pharmacology, and internal medicine.

This new section of the Handbook of Physiology provides a comprehensive and authoritative account of current knowledge about kidney function. The early chapters emphasize structure, and relationships between structure and function. Tissue culture and renal micropuncture are among the many techniques discussed in detail. The physiology of non-renal tissues that serve as models of tubule function, comparative physiology, and developmental aspects of kidney function are similarly discussed. Glomerular filtration and mechanisms of transport of different solutes in water at the level of plasma membranes, of renal tubules, and of the whole kidney are covered in depth. The concentrating mechanism, the regulation of kidney function, including its relation to blood pressure homeostasis, and kidney-bone interactions are also reviewed in detail. Chapters on the biochemistry and metabolism of the kidney, diuretics, and erythropoietin round off the discussion. These two volumes offer the most up-to-date, comprehensive and authoritative coverage of kidney function available. Ninety international authorities present modern concepts of renal function, including the biochemistry, cell biology, and morphology of the kidney. Experimental techniques to study renal function are given detailed treatment. The chapters span the entire range of knowledge about kidney function, from the level of the plasma membrane to whole organ function, regulation and integration of kidney function into whole body homeostasis.

This important volume provides a cogent analysis of basic principles. The chapters on anatomy of the kidney focus on ultrastructure, providing a basis for understanding the following descriptions of transport across membranes and through intercellular channels. The discussion of investigative techniques begins with an assessment of clearance methods in animals and continues with an analysis of the techniques of stop flow, micropuncture, and in vitro perfusion of isolated tubule segments. Acidification and ammonia excretion are presented in depth, as are discrete tubular transport processes and electrophysiology. Other topics include glomerular-tubular balance, the role of aldosterone in electrolyte transport of antidiuretic hormone on water movement, and seminal views by key investigators on blood flow and filtration. Comparative physiology is also discussed, along with the renin-angiotensin system, the physiology of diuretic agents, and even the conduit system out of the kidney proper.

Each chapter in this authoritative volume is written by a well-known physiologist who has contributed to our current understanding of renal function. Together the authors offer a unique, inside perspective on the historical record of the discipline, from its roots in the ancient world to the most recent findings of modern times. Among the many topics discussed are renal blood flow and the dynamics of glomerular filtration; the clearance concept in renal physiology; micropuncture and microperfusion; transport of electrolytes across renal tubules; and diuretics and renal drug development.