Urine concentrating and diluting ability during aging

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2012 Dec;67(12):1352-7. doi: 10.1093/gerona/gls128. Epub 2012 May 15.

Abstract

Urine concentrating ability is reduced during normal aging in people and rats. The abundance of many of the key transport proteins that contribute to urine concentrating ability is reduced in the kidney medulla of aged rats. The reductions in water, sodium, and urea transport protein abundances, and their reduced response to water restriction, contribute to the reduced ability of aged rats to concentrate their urine and conserve water. If similar mechanisms occur in human kidneys, it would provide a molecular explanation for the reduced urine concentrating ability in aging and may provide opportunities for novel therapeutic approaches to improve urine concentrating ability and/or nocturnal polyuria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Aquaporin 2 / metabolism
  • Aquaporins / physiology
  • Biological Transport, Active / physiology
  • Carrier Proteins / physiology
  • Humans
  • Kidney / physiology*
  • Kidney Concentrating Ability / physiology*
  • Kidney Tubules, Collecting / physiology
  • Loop of Henle / physiology
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / physiology
  • Receptors, Vasopressin / physiology
  • Sodium / metabolism
  • Urea Transporters
  • Vasopressins / physiology

Substances

  • Aquaporin 2
  • Aquaporins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Receptors, Vasopressin
  • Vasopressins
  • Sodium