Modeling TGF-mediated flow dynamics in a system of three coupled nephrons

This paper focuses on a mathematical model of a system of three closely coupled nephrons and accompanying analytical and computational analysis. In our previous modeling efforts, we have shown how coupling magnifies the tendency of many coupled identical nephrons to oscillate owing to tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism. However, in this study, our focus is on the coupled nonidentical nephrons and their dynamics due to the TGF system. Our detailed analytical and computational results suggest that systems of three nonidentical nephrons coupled to their nearest neighbors are prone to be found in an oscillatory state, relative to a single-nephron case with the same properties; however, their steady-state regions are not necessarily as small as it was predicted from the system of many coupled identical nephrons cases.