Optical studies on the action of furosemide on macula densa and cortical thick ascending limb cells. Intracellular calcium fluorescence measurements.

The present study shows the successful use of an optical technique that describes the application of both differential interference contrast (DIC) and fluorescence microscopy to the study of structure-function relationships in isolated perfused cTAL-MD segments of the nephron. Image-intensified video microscopy and digital image processing techniques were used to simultaneously and directly visualize and quantify [Ca+2]i in individual cTAL cells and MD cells. This study also indicates that no large changes in MD [Ca+2]i can be observed under maneuvers that are known to affect the autoregulatory mechanisms of single nephron glomerular filtration rate. Therefore, it is less likely that MD [Ca+2]i could be a link in the transmission of the signal from the MD cells to the rest of the cells in the juxtaglomerular apparatus for the release of the TGF mechanism and/or renin. Possibly some other mechanism like the electrolyte transport itself, that can alter the solute concentration and tonicity of the Goormaghtigh cell field (juxtaglomerular interstitium), may be the signal to proceed with the rest of the events developed by the juxtaglomerular apparatus to control single nephron glomerular filtration rate.