Measuring dynamic kidney function in an undergraduate physiology laboratory

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Nephrology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Undergraduate physiology labs often lack advanced renal function assessment tools.
• Current methods like urinalysis provide limited insight into dynamic kidney processes.
• There's a need for accessible, dynamic renal physiology experiments in teaching labs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a practical method for estimating renal function parameters in undergraduate laboratories.
• To enable students to measure and analyze glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and fractional water reabsorption.
• To correlate physiological parameters and discuss kidney mechanisms using class data.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing renal clearance measurements to estimate GFR, fractional water reabsorption, and glucose clearance.
• Implementing straightforward procedures adaptable to most undergraduate physiology lab settings.
• Collecting and analyzing class-wide data for correlations between renal parameters.

Main Results:

• Estimated GFR averaged 124 ± 45 ml/min, serum creatinine 1.23 ± 0.4 mg/dl.
• Fractional water reabsorption was measured at approximately 96.8%.
• Significant correlations were found between fractional water reabsorption and urine concentration.

Conclusions:

• Renal clearance measurements offer a valuable, dynamic approach to teaching renal physiology.
• The proposed methods align with established physiological parameters and enhance student understanding.
• This approach facilitates discussions on urine concentrating mechanisms and kidney function in an educational context.