RUI: Localization of Peptide Hormone (Arginine Vasotocin and Parathyroid Hormone) Action in the Avian Nephron

9630630 Goldstein肾脏是鸟类体内负责调节水和盐平衡的基本器官。和其他脊椎动物一样，这些是由许多激素调节的。对整个动物的研究已经阐明了其中一些机制的基本情况。对于水平衡的调节，精氨酸缩宫素（AVT，从脑垂体释放）主要负责减少尿流量。为了调节磷酸盐（骨骼的主要成分）的平衡，甲状旁腺激素（PTH，来自颈部的甲状旁腺）主要负责刺激尿液中磷酸盐的排泄。然而，这些激素（或者，事实上，任何激素）在禽肾中的作用部位是未知的。鸟肾由成千上万个独立的功能单位组成，即肾小管。在每个肾脏中有两个主要的小管亚类，在每个小管中有几个不同的专门区域。在本研究中，PI将评估AVT和PTH在肾小管内的具体作用部位。适当调节水和磷酸盐的排泄对生存具有基本价值；这些过程的中断可导致各种病理（例如，肾结石，家禽的一种常见疾病）。目前的研究应该导致对调节鸟类生理学这些基本方面的机制有更好的理解。

9630630 Goldstein The kidney is the organ fundamentally responsible for regulation of water and salt balance in birds. As in other vertebrate groups, these are regulated by a number of hormones. Studies of whole animals have elucidated a basic picture of some of these mechanisms. For regulation of water balance, the hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT, released from the pituitary gland of the brain) is primarily responsible for reducing urine flow. For regulating the balance of phosphate (a principle component of bone), the hormone parathyroid hormone (PTH, from the parathyroid glands in the neck) is primarily responsible for stimulating urinary excretion of phosphate. Yet the sites of action of these hormones (or, in fact, of any hormone) within the avian kidney are unknown. The avian kidney consists of thousands of individual functional units, the renal tubules. Within each kidney are two major subclasses of tubule, and within each tubule are several differently specialized regions. In the present studies, the PI will evaluate the specific site of aciton of AVT and PTH within the renal tubules. Adequate regulation of water and phosphate excretion are of basic value to survival; disruptions in these processes can lead to a variety of pathologies (e.g., kidney stones, a common disease of poultry). The present studies should lead to an improved understanding of the mechanisms which regulate these basic aspects of avian physiology.