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Related Concept Videos

Nephrons01:10

Nephrons

The kidneys are intricate organs with millions of working units known as nephrons. Each nephron features two major structures: the renal corpuscle, which facilitates blood plasma filtration, and the renal tubule, which handles the glomerular filtrate. Blood supply is directly linked to the nephrons. The renal corpuscle consists of the glomerulus, a capillary network, and the Bowman's capsule, a double-walled epithelial structure that encases the glomerulus. The filtering of blood plasma happens...
Kidney Structure01:45

Kidney Structure

The kidneys are two large bean-shaped organs located in the upper abdomen. They filter the blood several times a day to remove toxins and rebalance water and electrolytes of the circulatory system via the renal veins. The kidneys receive blood directly from the heart via the renal arteries. These arteries enter the kidney at the hilum, the concave surface of the bean, where they branch and divide into smaller vessels and capillaries.
Renal Drug Excretion: Overview01:15

Renal Drug Excretion: Overview

As primary excretory organs, the kidneys maintain homeostasis by removing waste substances from the bloodstream. They comprise over a million units called nephrons, which serve as the kidney's functional units.
A nephron consists of two primary structures: the renal corpuscle and the renal tubule. The renal corpuscle contains the glomerulus, a network of capillaries where the first step of renal excretion, glomerular filtration, occurs. Blood pressure forces water, ions, and small molecules out...
Drug Elimination by Renal Route: Glomerular Filtration01:17

Drug Elimination by Renal Route: Glomerular Filtration

The kidney serves as the primary organ responsible for eliminating drugs and their metabolites from the body. This process, known as renal elimination, starts with glomerular filtration and results in urine formation. Each kidney houses millions of functional units called nephrons, where urine production takes place. A nephron has two main components: a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule. Drugs gain access to the kidney via the renal artery, which progressively branches off into afferent...
Filtration and Urine Formation01:32

Filtration and Urine Formation

The function of the kidneys is to filter, reabsorb, secrete, and excrete. Every day the kidneys filter nearly 180 liters of blood, initially removing water and solutes but ultimately returning nearly all filtrates into circulation with the help of osmoregulatory hormones. This process removes wastes and toxins but is also crucial to maintain water and electrolyte levels. Most of these functions are performed by the tiny but numerous nephrons contained within the kidneys.
Dialysis01:27

Dialysis

Renal failure occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste products from the blood effectively. It can be classified into two types: acute renal failure (ARF) and chronic renal failure (CRF).
Acute kidney injury develops suddenly and can be caused by pre-renal causes (e.g., hypovolemia, shock), intrinsic renal causes (e.g., acute tubular necrosis), or post-renal causes (e.g., urinary obstruction). In contrast, chronic renal failure progresses gradually over time and is often...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Analysis of Nephron Composition and Function in the Adult Zebrafish Kidney
08:53

Analysis of Nephron Composition and Function in the Adult Zebrafish Kidney

Published on: August 9, 2014

Can the nephron be spared?

Stuart M Flechner1

  • 1Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. flechns@ccf.org

Kidney International
|April 1, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The Spare the Nephron Trial found early conversion to sirolimus improved kidney function after transplantation compared to calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). Some patients experienced sirolimus tolerability issues.

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Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Analysis of Nephron Composition and Function in the Adult Zebrafish Kidney
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Estimation of Nephron Number in Whole Kidney using the Acid Maceration Method
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Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Immunosuppression
  • Transplantation medicine

Background:

  • Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are standard immunosuppressants in renal transplantation but cause nephrotoxicity.
  • Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors offer an alternative immunosuppressive strategy.
  • Minimizing CNI-induced nephrotoxicity is crucial for long-term graft survival.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of early conversion from CNIs to an mTOR inhibitor (sirolimus) in renal transplant recipients.
  • To assess the impact of this conversion strategy on renal function and graft outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • The Spare the Nephron Trial involved patients maintained on mycophenolate mofetil and steroids.
  • Participants underwent early conversion from CNIs to sirolimus.
  • Renal function, assessed by glomerular filtration rate (GFR), was monitored over 1-2 years.

Main Results:

  • Patients converted to sirolimus demonstrated superior glomerular filtration rates (GFR) at 1-2 years post-transplantation.
  • Approximately 20% of patients experienced a loss of tolerability to sirolimus.
  • The study highlights a trade-off between improved renal function and potential adverse effects.

Conclusions:

  • Early conversion to sirolimus can improve renal function in renal transplant recipients.
  • Sirolimus represents a viable alternative to CNIs for minimizing nephrotoxicity.
  • Careful patient selection and monitoring are necessary due to potential tolerability issues with sirolimus.