PHYS30001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 28: Renal Agenesis, Erythropoietin, Cortisol
Document Summary
Pre-term baby has undeveloped kidney, birth will interfere with nephron formation. Mouse is a common animal model, but it starts kidney development halfway through and continues after birth. Kidney filters blood and produces urine in utero. Urine is excreted into the amniotic fluid, contributing to its volume (important for regulating pressure) most is removed via the membranes or fetal swallowing. Produces hormones cortisol (important for lung development), renin, erythropoietin (rbc production), which are swallowed to promote growth. Impaired kidney at this stage can cause deficits in lung/blood vessel/blood cell formation. Half the gfr of adult, but much more urine produced (no need to conserve water) Low blood flow to kidney (doesn"t need to functionally filter blood because it"s done via placenta) Can"t concentrate urine like the adult - doesn"t function for water/na homeostasis. Bilateral renal agenesis (potters syndrome) - don"t develop kidneys. Congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract (cakut)
