Neural Control of Renal Function, 2nd Edition
 

The neural control of the kidney is one of the important mechanisms contributing to the physiological control of renal function. The kidney is densely innervated by sympathetic nerves. Increases in renal sympathetic nerve activity decrease renal blood flow and urinary sodium excretion and increase renin secretion rate. Thus changes in efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity contribute importantly to the homeostatic regulation of arterial pressure and sodium balance. The kidney is also innervated by afferent renal sensory nerves, activation of which decreases efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity, thereby providing a mechanism to minimize sodium retention. Importantly in pathological conditions, there is now considerable evidence for increased renal sympathetic nervous activity contributing to a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, heart failure and renal failure.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of efferent renal sympathetic nerves and afferent renal sensory nerves in physiological and pathophysiological states. Originally published in 2011, this updated and revised 2nd edition provides more extensive coverage of the role of the renal nerves in pathophysiology, which has been an area of renewed interest since the development of the renal denervation technique in humans.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Part I Efferent Renal Sympathetic Nerves
1. Introduction
2. Neuroanatomy
3. Neural Control of Renal Hemodynamics
4. Neural Control of Renal Tubular Function
5. Neural Control of Renin Secretion Rate

Part II Afferent Renal Sensory Nerves
6. Introduction
7. Neuroanatomy
8. Renorenal Reflexes
9. Mechanisms Involved in the Activation of Afferent Renal Sensory Nerves

Part III Pathophysiological States
10. Efferent Renal Sympathetic and Afferent Renal Nerves
11. Conclusions

References
Author Biography

About the Author(s)

Ulla C. Kopp, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Ulla C. Kopp is Professor Emerita of Internal Medicine/Nephrology and Pharmacology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa. She received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and her research interests include renorenal reflexes in normotension and hypertension. Further information on the author can be found at
https://medicine.uiowa.edu/internalmedicine/profile/ulla-kopp.