RENAL PROSTAGLANDINS AND SODIUM EXCRETION

¹ Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TJ

In conclusion, it can be said that renal prostaglandins undoubtedly influence sodium excretion, but they cannot really be said to regulate sodium excretion. The primary purpose of cortical prostaglandin synthesis seems to be to modulate renin release, and to guard the renal blood supply and glomerular filtration rate against potential reductions. The primary purpose of medullary prostaglandin synthesis appears to be to regulate the papillary osmolality, and some of the effects of the renal prostaglandins on sodium and water excretion are probably secondary to changes in the papillary osmolality. In addition medullary prostaglandin synthesis modulates the actions of vasopressin, though this action may be of little physiological importance (Padfield & Grekin, 1981).