Determinants of axial osmotic gradients in the differentiating countercurrent system

The renal medullary countercurrent system differentiates into its final segmental nephron function and geometry during perinatal development. The influence of these changes on the medullary longitudinal osmotic gradient cannot be evaluated by experimental studies. Therefore, a computation analysis using a differential equation model of the renal countercurrent system was applied to quantitate the effect of medullary architecture and solute transport on the concentration profiles for salt and urea in tubules (loop of Henle and collecting duct) and in the central core along the entire medulla during ontogeny. The results indicate that both the changing distribution of loop segments within the medulla and the increase in active salt transport of the individual thick ascending loop determine the magnitude and slope of the axial medullary solute gradients.