This article is a review article that mentions that the inhibition of the production of nitric oxide (NO) in macula densa (MD) cells leads to an exaggerated TGF response.

An exaggerated TGF response in this case refers to out of proportion constriction of the afferent arteriole in response to increased in sodium chloride tubular delivery at the level of the MD. The presence of neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) in the MD cells would prevent exaggerated responses.

Clinically, a compromised nNOS function has been seen in hypertension and diabetes.

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