Renal physiology
Our current interest is the pathophysiology of polycystic kidney disease (PKD). PKD is most often an inherited disorder in which numerous epithelial cysts develop in the kidneys, ultimately leading to renal failure. We are investigating the effects of dietary treatments which slow the progression of this devastating disease in an animal model of autosomal dominant PKD, the Han:SPRD rat.
Kidney function in health and disease
I have had a long-standing interest in kidney function in health and disease. In my laboratory, I mainly use kidney clearance and micropuncture techniques to study whole kidney and single nephron functions in small laboratory animals (rats, salamanders). My most recent studies have dealt with polycystic kidney disease. This inherited disorder affects about 500,000 Americans and millions more worldwide. In rats with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease, we demonstrated that dietary treatment with alkalinizng citrate salts dramatically slows progression of the disease. Whether this treatment would also work in patients is not known. Current and future plans are to use the two-photon microscope to examine glomerular permeability to macromolecules in Munich-Wistar rats and in the salamander Necturus. We will test the hypothesis that electrical charge significantly affects the filterability of macromolecules.
Experimental Expertise
- Kidney micropuncture
This approach is used to analyze functions at the single nephron level in anesthetized rats and salamanders.
- Renal clearance
This method is used to evaluate whole kidney function (glomerular filtration rate, renal blood flow, tubular transport) in anesthetized rats and salamanders.
- Kidney microdissection
This classical method is used to examine the structure of normal and cystic nephrons.
- Gene delivery into single nephrons, combined with in vivo two-photon microscopy
Using kidney micropuncture and an adenovirus vector, we can express proteins labeled with a green fluorescent protein and observe protein dynamics in vivo in tubular and endothelial cells in the rat.
Renal physiology
Kidney Disease, Kidney (Renal) Functions
