RENAL PHYSIOLOGY

PHYSIOEX
Lu, Mangaba, Nieveras, Ortiz, Ramos, Yatco
 ACTIVITY 3
Renal Response to Altered Blood Pressure
Introduction
Approximately 180 liters of filtrate flows into the renal tubules everyday.

As demonstrated in Activity 2, the blood pressure supplying the nephron can

have substantial impact on the glomerular capillary pressure and glomerular
filtration.

However, under most circumstances, glomerular capillary pressure and

glomerular filtration remain relatively constant despite changes in the blood
pressure because the nephron has the capacity to alter its afferent and
efferent arteriole radius.
During glomerular filtration, blood enters the glomerulus from the afferent
arteriole. Starling forces(primarily hydrostatic pressure gradients) drive
protein-free fluid out of the glomerular capillaries and into the Bowman's
capsule. Importantly for our body's homeostasis, a relatively constant
glomerular filtration rate of 125ml/min is maintained despite a wide range of
blood pressures that occur throughout the day for an average human.
In this activity, we altered both variables to explore their combined effects on
glomerular filtration and observe how changes in one variable can
compensate for changes in the other to maintain an adequate glomerular
filtration rate.
Autoregulation Mechanism
● Primary function is to maintain a relatively constant GFR despite changes in
arterial blood pressure
○ Attained by regulating tone of the afferent arteriole

Myogenic Regulation
● Is ability of blood vessels to resist stretching during increase in arterial
pressure
● Intrinsic property of vascular smooth muscle (tendency to contract when
stretched)
Tubuloglomerular feedback
○Increased sodium chloride concentration in the macula densa of the thick ascending
limb causes a release of adenosine from the macula densa cells, releasing
vasoconstrictors to the afferent arteriole
○Decreased sodium chloride in the macula densa of the thick ascending tubule
causes a decreased release of adenosine, causing vasodilation of the afferent
arteriole
Changes in Glomerular Arteriolar resistance
alters capillary hydrostatic pressure

Dilation of afferent arteriole Constriction of efferent arteriole

Increase Glomerular Capillary Increase Glomerular Capillary

Hydrostatic Pressure Hydrostatic Pressure

Increase Glomerular Filtration Increase Glomerular Filtration

Rate Rate
Simulating Glomerular Filtration
 Objectives
● To understand the terms nephron, renal tubule, filtrate, Bowman’s
Capsule, blood pressure, afferent arteriole, efferent arteriole, glomerulus,
glomerular filtrate, and glomerular capillary pressure

● To understand how blood pressure affects glomerular capillary pressure

and glomerular filtrate

● To observe which is more effective: changes in afferent or efferent

arteriole radius when changes in blood pressure occur
Experiment Data
 Results & Discussion
● The data from the first run are the baseline values
● The second run depicted how the nephron works in response to reduced
blood pressure here, the beaker pressure is reduced from 90 mmHg to
70 mmHg, significantly decreasing the Glomerular pressure, GFR and
Urine Volume.
● In the 3rd run the afferent arteriole radius was increased, simulating a
compensatory response to low blood pressure, which resulted to a
remarkable increase of glomerular pressure, GFR and urine output
almost at the level of baseline values
 Results & Discussion
● The 4th cycle showed vasoconstricting or decreasing the efferent
arteriole radius which produced a minimal improvement on the
Glomerular Pressure & Filtration as well as the Urine Volume,
respectively.
● 5th demonstrated the effect on glomerular capillary pressure and
filtration rates, as well as urine volume when both of these arteriolar radii
changes were applied at the same time, the values produced were higher
than the baseline values.
Review Questions
1. List the several mechanisms you have explored that change the
glomerular filtration rate. How does each mechanism specifically alter the
glomerular filtration rate?

I. Myogenic Mechanism
- Pressure sensitive

I. Tubuloglomerular feedback
- NaCl sensitive > results to VC or VD
2. Describe and explain what happened to the glomerular capillary pressure
and glomerular filtration rate when both arteriole radii changes were
implemented simultaneously with the low blood pressure condition.
The GFR and Pgc normalized despite the low blood pressure condition due to
the dilation of the afferent arteriole and the constriction of the efferent
arteriole.
3. How could you adjust the afferent or efferent radius to compensate for the
effect of reduced blood pressure on the glomerular filtration rate?

a.) By constricticting the efferent arteriole = blood stays longer in the

glomerulus
b.) By dilating the afferent arteriole = more blood flows into the glomerulus
4.Which arteriole radius adjustment was more effective at compensating for
the effect of low blood pressure on the glomerular filtration rate? Explain why
you think this difference occurs.
- The dilation of the afferent arteriole was the most effective at
compensating for the effect of low blood pressure on the GFR.
- Q = P/R
- Dilation of the afferent arteriole reduces resistance which increases the
flow of blood into the glomerulus
- Constriction of the efferent arteriole merely prolongs what little blood
enters the glomerulus
Review Questions
5. In the body, how does a nephron maintain a near-constant glomerular
filtration rate despite a constantly fluctuating blood pressure?
I. Intrinsic Controls

a.) Autoregulation
I. Extrinsic Controls

a.) Hormonal mechanism

b.) Sympathetic control
Conclusion
● GFR remains relatively constant despite changes in blood pressure by
altering afferent arteriole and efferent arteriole radii
○ Myogenic Mechanism
○ Tubuloglomerular feedback

● GFR increase is more effective during dilation of the afferent arteriole

● This activity highlights autoregulation, the ability of nephrons to keep GFR

relatively constant despite changing blood pressures. In the absence of
nervous system or endocrine system input, local control is exerted by
adjusting the radius of the afferent and efferent vessels.
 ACTIVITY 4
Solute Gradients and their Impact on Urine Concentration
Urine Formation
Proximal Tubule Solute and water reabsorption in an isosmotic fashion

Thin Concentrating segment

Descending

Thin Ascending Solute reabsorption

Thick Ascending Diluting segment

Distal Tubule Solute reabsorption

Collecting Ducts Initially, solute reabsorption and water impermeable
ADH makes the segment water permeable
Urine Concentration
● In urine formation, solutes and water move from the tubule lumen back
into the interstitial spaces
● Solute concentration gradient in the interstitial space influences
movements of water, dragging with it other solutes (like K+ and Ca++)
● Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
○ Urine volume and osmolality regulator
○ Acts on the collecting ducts, allowing water permeability
■ LOW plasma ADH = diluted urine
■ HIGH Plasma ADH = concentrated urine
Objectives
● To understand the term antidiuretic hormone (ADH), reabsorption, loop of
Henle, collecting duct, tubule lumen, interstitial space and peritubular
capillaries
● To explain the process of water reabsorption in specific regions of the
nephron
● To understand the role of ADH in water reabsorption by the nephron
● To describe how the kidneys can produce urine that is four times more
concentrated than the blood
Simulating Urine Formation
Experiment Data
Results & Discussion
● The initial solute concentration of the interstitial fluid was at 300
mOsm/L producing a urine volume of 80.57ml,
● The concentration gradient is then increased to 600 mOsm/L which
resulted to a decrease in the urine volume and an increase in the urine
concentration.
● The concentration gradient was repeatedly increased until it reached the
maximum total solute concentration of 1200 mOsm/L in the interstitial
fluid yielding 16.86 ml of urine.
● The higher the osmolarity of the interstitial space, the more concentrated
the urine becomes
Review Questions
1. What happened to the urine concentration as the solute concentration in
the interstitial space was increased? How well did the results compare to
your prediction?
As solute concentration is increased the urine concentration will also
increase. The urine volume decreased as the solute and urine concentration
is increased. My prediction was the same.
Movement of water and solutes from the tubule to the interstitium is
influenced by the interstitial solute concentration gradient. This interstitial
space is mainly comprised of NaCl and Urea, attracting water out of the
lumen in areas where it is permeable.
Review Questions
2. What happened to the volume of urine as the solute concentration in the
interstitial space was increased? How well did the results compare to your
prediction?
As the solute concentration increased the urine volume decreased, as my
prediction stated.
Review Questions
3. What do you think would happen to urine volume if you did not add ADH to
the collecting duct?
The volume of urine would increase if ADH was not added to the collecting
duct. This is because the ADH work on the collecting ducts where the
increase permeability for water is increased, so less water is secreted into the
urine, therefore urine becomes more concentrated.
Review Questions
4. Is most of the tubule filtrate reabsorbed into the body or excreted in urine?
Explain.

Most of the filtrate is reabsorbed throughout the nephron. In the proximal

tubule alone, 67% of both solute and water is reabsorbed. The rest of the
nephron segments reabsorb solute and water, depending on the needs of the
body. All other excess are excreted in the urine.
Review Questions
5. Can the reabsorption of solutes influence water reabsorption from the
tubule fluid? Explain.

When reabsorption of Nacl occur, then water follows, so other solutes may
influence the water reabsorption by making more water follow out of the
tubules with the NaCl making the urine concentration increase.
Conclusion
● In the presence of ADH, urine concentration increases when total solute
concentration gradient increases

● In the presence of ADH, urine volume decreases when total solute

concentration gradient increases
○ ADH enable water reabsorption in the collecting ducts of the
nephron, producing a more concentrated and lesser volume urine