Welcome to Leon Moore's Place
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
The major interest in my laboratory is tubuloglomerular feedback, a negative feedback mechanism that regulates glomerular filtration rate and blood flow in the kidney. We are investigating the mechanism of transmission of the tubuloglomerular feedback signal from the macula densa cell plaque in the nephron to the extraglomerular mesangial cells in the juxtaglomerular apparatus. The macula densa is the sensor of the feedback mechanism, while the mesangial cells are modified smooth muscle that appear to be involved in the initiation of the effector response, namely arteriolar vasoconstriction. We are now studying the role of nitric oxide produced by the macula densa cells in the propagation of the tubuloglomerular feedback response. These experiments use a nitric oxide sensitive microelectrode we have developed for use in perfused vessels. A second focus of my lab is the investigation of the dynamics of the tubuloglomerular feedback system, which displays periodic limit-cycle oscillations and, in some disease states, chaotic fluctuations. The work involves theoretical analysis, computer simulation, and experimental measurements.
Layton, H.E., E.B. Pitman, and Moore, L.C. Instantaneous and steady-state gains in the tubuloglomerular feedback sytsem. American Journal of Physiology 268:F163-F174, 1995.
Goligorsky, M.S., Colflesh, D., Gordienko, D., and Moore, L.C. Branching points of renal resistance arteries are enriched in L-type calcium channels and initiate vasoconstriction. American Journal of Physiology 268: F251-F257, 1995.
Last updated 6/19/96