What is the macula densa of the kidney?
In the kidney, the macula densa is an area of closely packed specialized cells lining the wall of the distal tubule, at the point where the thick ascending limb of the Loop of Henle meets the distal convoluted tubule. The macula densa is the thickening where the distal tubule touches the glomerulus.
What is macula densa histology?
Histology@Yale The macula densa is a collection of specialized epithelial cells in the distal convoluted tubule that detect sodium concentration of the fluid in the tubule.
How does the macula densa work?
Macula densa cells monitor intratubular salt concentrations to regulate renal blood flow via afferent arteriole constriction and dilation. The juxtaglomerular cells also contain renin granules, which can send out a wider signal to control vascular resistance through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone pathways.
What are macula densa cells?
Macula densa cells are renal sensor elements that detect changes in distal tubular fluid composition and transmit signals to the glomerular vascular elements. This tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism plays an important role in regulating glomerular filtration rate and blood flow.
What forms the macula densa?
The cells of the distal tubule adjacent to the JGA form a specialized plaque of sensory cells termed the macula densa (MD).
Which of the following best describes the function of macula densa cells?
What is the function of the macula densa cells of the juxtaglomerular complex (JGC)? The macula densa cells monitor the NaCl content of the filtrate entering the distal convoluted tubule.
What is detected by the macula densa to stimulate tubuloglomerular feedback?
Sodium chloride is sensed by the macula densa mainly by an apical Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2). The relationship between the TGF and NKCC2 can be seen through the administration of loop diuretics like furosemide.
What stimulates the macula densa?
The macula densa, in response to the change in the Na concentration in the distal tubules, signals the juxtaglomerular cells to release renin. Renin is stored in granules and the secretion is stimulated by the β-adrenergic response and cAMP augmentation.
Which protein is involved in a macula densa?
The macula densa mediates afferent arteriolar constriction by the release of adenosine, which acts via adenosine-1 receptors. Adenosine-1 receptors mediate vasoconstriction by G protein–coupled receptors.
What stimulates macula densa cells?
What is the function of the macula densa cells of the JGC?
How does the macula densa increase GFR?
Reduced NaCl uptake via the NCC2 at the macula densa leads to increased renin release, which leads to restoration of plasma volume, and to dilation of the afferent arterioles, which leads to increased renal plasma flow and increased GFR.