Model of TGF-proximal tubule interactions in renal autoregulation

Previous models, assuming constant reabsorption in the proximal tubule, have shown that tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) can explain only a fraction of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal blood flow autoregulation. Increased arterial pressure inhibits proximal tubule fluid reabsorption, an effect that should increase the efficacy of TGF because of the resulting increased flow rate in the loop of Henle. Models describing pressure and flow in a glomerulus and a nephron were derived to test this prediction. The models were coupled by a TGF function with tubular flow rate at the end of the proximal tubule (superficial nephron) or at the macula densa (juxtamedullary nephron) as input and with afferent arteriolar resistance as output. In agreement with others, the model predicted that TGF alone could account for about one-half of autoregulation. Pressure-dependent inhibition of proximal reabsorption increased the ability of TGF to account for autoregulation, providing compensation for increases in arterial pressure comparable to published whole kidney values. The inclusion of an approximation of an effect of arterial pressure on TGF marginally improved predicted autoregulation. Although the results suggest that the proximal tubule-TGF interaction can provide a quantitatively adequate explanation for autoregulation, they also indicate that the effect of the interaction is spent at arterial pressures greater than 130 mmHg. Additional mechanisms are required to extend this range.