Neural Control Of Renal Function: Functionally Specific Populations Of Sympathetic Nerves
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$286,250.00
Summary
The kidneys are supplied with a dense network of nerves. Working properly, these nerves help maintain normal filtering of the blood by the kidneys. Over-activity of the nerves going to the kidney is associated with congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, chronic renal failure and hypertension. We have recently made several major discoveries about these nerves. Our studies suggest, based on structural and functional evidence, that stimulation of subgroups of nerve fibers going to the kidney wi ....The kidneys are supplied with a dense network of nerves. Working properly, these nerves help maintain normal filtering of the blood by the kidneys. Over-activity of the nerves going to the kidney is associated with congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, chronic renal failure and hypertension. We have recently made several major discoveries about these nerves. Our studies suggest, based on structural and functional evidence, that stimulation of subgroups of nerve fibers going to the kidney will causes different effects with in the kidney . We therefore suggest that salt excretion , the control of blood flow to the kidney and the release of hormones by the kidney can be seperately regulated by the nerves. Using techinques only practise in a handful of laboratories around the world, we aim to determine to how the nerves control kidney function normally. These studies will suggest new directions in which the renal nerves may be implicated in disease.Read moreRead less
Associate Professor Kate Denton is an internationally recognised cardiovascular researcher. A focus of Dr Denton’s research is to find out why women do not respond to current treatments as well as men, and how factors in pregnancy (nutrition, stress, alcohol) drive the development of cardiovascular disease in offspring. Dr Denton is also leading research to understand why a new high blood pressure treatment (blocking nerves to the kidney) is proving more effective than expected.
Single Nephron GFR And Tubuloglomerular Feedback Before And After Birth.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$402,428.00
Summary
In this project we want to study the forces responsible for the filtration of plasma by the kidney during development. This process is the first step in urine production. It is important to understand kidney function because abnormalities in kidney function can result in high blood pressure and chronic renal disease (requiring dialysis or transplant) in later life. It is reported that up to 40% of the population is salt sensitive i.e. their blood pressure increases when they are on a high salt d ....In this project we want to study the forces responsible for the filtration of plasma by the kidney during development. This process is the first step in urine production. It is important to understand kidney function because abnormalities in kidney function can result in high blood pressure and chronic renal disease (requiring dialysis or transplant) in later life. It is reported that up to 40% of the population is salt sensitive i.e. their blood pressure increases when they are on a high salt diet. The cause of this salt sensitivity is unknown but we believe that it could be due to abnormalities in kidney function during fetal life. Alterations in function occuring during development can have life long effects through a process called fetal programming.Read moreRead less