Renal autoregulation: models combining tubuloglomerular feedback and myogenic response

Abstract

As shown previously, autoregulation of renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at varying arterial pressure may result from a myogenic response (MR) acting to maintain wall tension in each preglomerular vessel segment. We now combine MR with tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) responding to distal tubular flow rate. The model consists of preglomerular and postglomerular resistances, glomerular filtration, and a tubular system. TGF acting on preglomerular resistance with parameters that mimic responses to single nephron distal tubular flow rate in rats and dogs failed to account for the autoregulation of RBF and GFR observed experimentally. Good autoregulation was obtained by adding preglomerular MR. In this combination, TGF is activated mainly in the lower range of autoregulation. Addition of mechanisms that increase postglomerular resistance or increase the glomerular filtration coefficient at reduced arterial pressure impairs RBF autoregulation, whereas GFR autoregulation is only slightly improved. TGF regulation of pre- and postglomerular resistance in the same direction seems compatible with good autoregulation only when combined with a preglomerular myogenic mechanism.