In vitro perfused juxtamedullary nephron

Limitations of the in vitro perfused juxtamedullary nephron preparation include 1) the availability of only a select population of juxtamedullary glomeruli near the inner surface of the kidney 2) underestimation of the contribution of flow in large vessels to preglomeru-lar resistance and 3) lack of characterization of tubular transport. 

To date, the in vitro perfused juxtamedullary nephron preparation has not been used to examine the effects of nephrotoxic agents. However the preparation has been used to examine the pathophysiology of tubuloglomerular feedback. It has also been used to study the effect of mediators like adenosine, oxygen radicals and nitric oxide. Some recent studies are discussed below. 

The method for the in vitro perfused juxtamedullary nephron technique in Sprague-Dawley rats is as follows A common dissection procedure is used to expose the arteries and related nephrons located at the inside surface of the renal cortex hning the pelvic cavity. Rats are systemically heparinized. The right kid-... 

Advantages of the in vitro perfused juxtamedullary nephron preparation are 1) preservation of the circulatory network 2) no microdissection trauma to vessels 3) the elimination of neural and hormonal influences 4) maintenance of tubulovascular relationship and 5) simultaneous evaluation of both vascular and tubular effects of toxic substances. 

Casellas D, Carmines PK, Navar LG Microvascular reactivity of in vitro blood perfused juxtamedullary nephrons from rats. Kidney Int 28 752-759,1985... 

Casellas D, Navar LG In vitro perfusion of juxtamedullary nephrons in rats. Am.J.Physiol 246 F349-E358, 1984... 

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