This article demonstrates that the extraglomerular mesangial cells are important in the communication between the macula densa (MD) and the afferent arteriole.

The integrity of the extraglomerular mesangial cells is important for the constriction of the afferent arteriole. Also the gap junctions of the extraglomerular mesangial cells are important too.

It is important to note that there are no gap junctions between the MD cells and the extraglomerular mesangial cells, but there are gap juntions between the extraglomerular mesangial cells and the vascular smooth muscle cells of the afferent arteriole

Credits

Renal Corpuscle Image. 2019. Downloaded under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License from Wikimedia Commons. Author: Shypoetess. No changes were made.

Posts in this series

1. Overview

2. Overview (cont)

3. The Macula Densa Cells May Sense Tubular Salt Content Using a NHE2 Exchanger

4. The Macula Densa Cells Also Can Sense Sodium and Chloride Concentrations Using the NKCC2 Transporter

5. PGE2 Inhibits nNOS in the Macula Densa Cells

6. MAP Kinases are Activated by Low Tubular NaCl and Stimulate COX-2 Expression

7. Inhibition of nNOS in the Macula Densa leads to an Exaggerated TGF Response

8. The EP4 Receptor in the Juxtaglomerular Granular Cells Seems to be the Most Important for the Action of PGE2

9. The Juxtaglomerular Granular Cells are More Numerous in the Afferent Arteriole

10. Angiotensin II Acts on the Afferent and Efferent Arterioles, But Increases More Resistance in the Efferent Arteriole

11. Angiotensin II, Mediated by AT1 Receptors, Stimulates Nitric Oxide Release in Afferent Arterioles

12. Angiotensin II Effects are Different in the Afferent and Efferent Arterioles

13. Macula Densa Cell Depolarization Mediates Release of ATP When There is Increase in Sodium Chloride