Some Electrical Properties of Single Renal Tubule Cells

At a considerable rate of metabolic expenditure, the renal tubules transfer large amounts of ions across their epithelial cell layer. Recently, a better characterization of the nature of individual ionic transport processes at the single nephron level has become possible through an assessment of some electrical characteristics of tubule cells. The response of either transmembrane or transepithelial potential differences to changes in the ionic environment, as well as measurements of the current-voltage relationship across various tubular structures, have served to clarify certain ionic conductance characteristics. In addition, insight into the functional organization of adjacent tubule cells is provided by recent inquiries into the nature of the current distribution along renal tubular structures.