© 2002 by European Society of Cardiology
Copyright © 2002, European Society of Cardiology
Macula densa neuronal nitric oxide synthase
Department of Medical Cell Biology, Division of Physiology, Uppsala University, BMC Box 571, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
erik.persson{at}medcellbiol.uu.se
* Corresponding author. Fax: +46-18-4714938.
In the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidney the distal tubule returns to its own glomerulus where specialised cells, the macula densa (MD) cells, are located so that they come in contact with the tubular fluid. It is well documented that MD cells sense the distal tubular flow-rate and that when the flow is too high they are activated, which leads to vasoconstriction of the afferent arteriolar, the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF). Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is largely expressed in the MD cells. Acute inhibition of MD nNOS leads to an enhanced TGF response, indicating that nitric oxide (NO) is an important short-term modulator for volume regulation in the body. By contrast, the NO from the nNOS of the MD cells does not seem to play a role in the long-term adaptations of renin release in low- or high-salt diets.
KEYWORDS Blood pressure; Hypertension; Nitric oxide; Renal function; Renin angiotensin system
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
M. W. Brands and H. Labazi Role of Glomerular Filtration Rate in Controlling Blood Pressure Early in Diabetes Hypertension, August 1, 2008; 52(2): 188 - 194. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
