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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Single-channel Analysis and Calcium Imaging in the Podocytes of the Freshly Isolated Glomeruli

Single-channel Analysis and Calcium Imaging in the Podocytes of the Freshly Isolated Glomeruli

Published on: June 27, 2015

Control of kidney development by calcium ions.

Thierry Gilbert¹, Catherine Leclerc, Marc Moreau

¹CNRS UMR 5547, Centre de Biologie du Développement, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France. tgilbert@cict.fr

|August 2, 2011

Summary

Calcium ions are crucial for kidney development, influencing early embryonic stages like pronephros formation and metanephric nephrogenesis. Recent findings highlight calcium signaling pathways essential for tubule formation and kidney organogenesis.

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Single-channel Analysis and Calcium Imaging in the Podocytes of the Freshly Isolated Glomeruli

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Published on: June 27, 2015

Implementing Patch Clamp and Live Fluorescence Microscopy to Monitor Functional Properties of Freshly Isolated PKD Epithelium

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Published on: September 1, 2015

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Cellular Physiology
Nephrology

Background:

Calcium is present throughout kidney development, from larval pronephros to adult metanephros.
Calcium-binding proteins like regucalcin/SMP-30 and calbindin-D28k are markers for specific kidney structures.
The precise role of calcium signaling in renal organogenesis has been unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the current understanding of calcium's role in embryonic kidney development.
To focus on calcium-binding proteins and sensors involved in renal organogenesis.
To explore the connection between calcium signals and polycystins.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on calcium and renal organogenesis.
Analysis of research on calcium-binding proteins and sensors in kidney development.
Examination of signaling pathways, including calcium/NFAT Wnt.

Main Results:

Calcium plays a key role in determining pronephric territory and converting metanephric mesenchyme into nephrons.
Calcium influx and transients are observed in renal progenitors, facilitating tubule formation.
Nuclear calcium signaling and the calcium/NFAT Wnt pathway are vital for nephrogenesis.

Conclusions:

Calcium ions and their signaling pathways are indispensable for multiple stages of kidney organogenesis.
Understanding these calcium-dependent mechanisms is crucial for insights into kidney development and disease.
Further research into nuclear calcium signaling and its link to polycystins is warranted.