Measuring nephron number in the healthy and diabetic rat kidney in vivo using MRI without contrast agents
We previously showed that resting-state magnetic resonance imaging (rsMRI) detects spontaneous physiological oscillations in rat and human kidneys, potentially reflecting autoregulation mechanisms. Here, we apply rsMRI and show that the features of these oscillations can be used to measure nephron number in healthy and diabetic rats, and are associated with the tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism. Because the rsMRI scan is short (∼10 min) and noninvasive, it might be rapidly translated to measure nephron number and function in the clinic.
Authors
- Kevin M. Bennett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1706-4660)
- Edwin J. Baldelomar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3482-373X)
- Jennifer R. Charlton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2225-535X)
- Alan Garfinkel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0500-3740)
- Lingyun Xiong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4594-4120)
- Benjamin Kohn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8578-227X)
- Shella Keilhoz
- Leslie D. Wilson
Institutions
- Emory University (US)
- Washington University in St. Louis (US)
- University of California System (US)
- University of Virginia (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology
- Published
- 2026-04-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.00088.2026
- Primary Topic
- Pediatric Urology and Nephrology Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases