physiologic

DEFINITION:

Normal; not pathologic; characteristic of or conforming to the normal functioning or state of the body or a tissue or organ; physiological.

proteins

DEFINITION:

Any of a group of complex organic compounds which contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and usually sulfur, the characteristic element being nitrogen, and which are widely distributed in plants and animals. Proteins, the principal constituents of the protoplasm of all cells, are of high molecular weight and consist essentially of combinations of a-amino acids in peptide linkages. Twenty different amino acids are commonly found in proteins, and each protein has a unique, genetically defined amino acid sequence which determines its specific shape and function. They serve as enzymes, structural elements, hormones, immunoglobulins, etc., and are involved in oxygen transport, muscle contraction, electron transport, and other activities throughout the body, and in photosynthesis.

binding protein - any of a number of plasma proteins (See below) that bind to hormones of low solubility (chiefly the thyroid and steroid hormones), thus providing a transport system for them; some are specific for particular hormones, while others bind to any sparingly soluble hormones. Called also carrier protein or transport protein (See below).

carrier proteins - A binding protein (See above).

plasma proteins - The hundreds of different proteins present in blood plasma, including carrier proteins (such as albumin, transferrin, and haptoglobin), fibrinogen and other coagulation factors, complement components, immunoglobulins, enzyme inhibitors, precursors of substances such as angiotensin and bradykinin, and many other types of proteins.

transport protein - binding protein (See above).

red blood cells

DEFINITION:

Erythrocytes.

kidney inner medulla

DEFINITION:

The inner part of the substance of the kidney, composed chiefly of collecting tubule elements, loops of Henle, and vasa recta, organized grossly into pyramids.

molecular

DEFINITION:

Of, pertaining to, or composed of molecules.

cloning

DEFINITION:

The formation of a clone.

cDNA

DEFINITION:

Complementary DNA or copy DNA.

isoforms

DEFINITION:

Any of a group of two or more different proteins that are produced by different genes and are specific to different tissues but have the same function and a similar sequence.

gene

DEFINITION:

A segment of a DNA molecule that contains all the information required for synthesis of a product (polypeptide chain or RNA molecule), including both coding and non-coding sequences. It is the biological unit of heredity, self-reproducing, and transmitted from parent to progeny. Each gene has a specific position (locus) on the chromosome map. From the standpoint of function, genes are conceived of as structural, operator, and regulatory genes.

wild-type gene - The normal allele of a gene, sometimes symbolized by +.

X-linked gene - A gene carried on the X chromosome; the corresponding trait, whether dominant or recessive, is always expressed in males, who have only one X chromosome. X linkage is used sometimes synonymously with sex linkage since no genetic disorders have as yet been associated with genes on the Y chromosome.

UT-B

DEFINITION:

One of the urea transporters that was originally isolated from red blood cells. This urea transporter is believed to be important for urea recycling in the kidney. (Klein)

cloned

DEFINITION:

Propagated or copied.

proteins

DEFINITION:

Any of a group of complex organic compounds which contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and usually sulfur, the characteristic element being nitrogen, and which are widely distributed in plants and animals. Proteins, the principal constituents of the protoplasm of all cells, are of high molecular weight and consist essentially of combinations of a-amino acids in peptide linkages. Twenty different amino acids are commonly found in proteins, and each protein has a unique, genetically defined amino acid sequence which determines its specific shape and function. They serve as enzymes, structural elements, hormones, immunoglobulins, etc., and are involved in oxygen transport, muscle contraction, electron transport, and other activities throughout the body, and in photosynthesis.

binding protein - any of a number of plasma proteins (See below) that bind to hormones of low solubility (chiefly the thyroid and steroid hormones), thus providing a transport system for them; some are specific for particular hormones, while others bind to any sparingly soluble hormones. Called also carrier protein or transport protein (See below).

carrier proteins - A binding protein (See above).

plasma proteins - The hundreds of different proteins present in blood plasma, including carrier proteins (such as albumin, transferrin, and haptoglobin), fibrinogen and other coagulation factors, complement components, immunoglobulins, enzyme inhibitors, precursors of substances such as angiotensin and bradykinin, and many other types of proteins.

transport protein - binding protein (See above).

novel

DEFINITION:

Of a new kind, or different from anything seen or known before.

UT-B

DEFINITION:

One of the urea transporters that was originally isolated from red blood cells. This urea transporter is believed to be important for urea recycling in the kidney. (Klein)

UT-B

DEFINITION:

One of the urea transporters that was originally isolated from red blood cells. This urea transporter is believed to be important for urea recycling in the kidney. (Klein)

expressed

DEFINITION:

1. Showing a detectable effect of a gene.

2. Made known; shown.

3. Squeezed out; extracted by pressing.

endothelial cells

DEFINITION:

See "endothelioid cells."

vasopressin

DEFINITION:

1. One of two octapeptide hormones formed by the neuronal cells of the hypothalamic nuclei and stored in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland (neurohypophysis), the other being oxytocin. It stimulates the contraction of the muscular tissue of the capillaries and arterioles, raising the blood pressure. It promotes contraction of the intestinal musculature and increases peristalsis, and also exerts some contractile influence on the uterus. It also has a specific effect on the epithelial cells of the distal portion of the uriniferous tubule, augmenting resorption of water independently of solutes, resulting in concentration of urine and dilution of blood serum. Its rate of secretion is regulated chiefly by the osmolarity of the plasma.

2. [USP], A pharmaceutical preparation of the same principle, prepared synthetically or obtained from the posterior pituitary of healthy domestic animals used for food by man; used mainly as an antidiuretic in the treatment of acute or chronic diabetes insipidus, administered intramuscularly as a test of hypothalamo-neurohypophysial-renal function in distinguishing central from nephrogenic diabetes insipidus; it may also be used to stimulate smooth muscle tissue, especially to induce vasoconstriction in the presence of hemorrhage. Called also antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

inner medullary collecting duct

DEFINITION:

The distal part of the renal tubule, including the loop of Henle, lying within the medulla.

inner medulla

DEFINITION:

Inner medulla of kidney: inner zone of renal medulla.

urine

DEFINITION:

The fluid excreted by the kidneys, passed through the ureters, stored in the bladder, and discharged through the urethra. Urine, in health, has an amber color, a slight acid reaction, a peculiar odor, and a bitter, saline taste.

concentrating

DEFINITION:

1. Bringing to a common center; gathering together at one point.

2. Increasing the strength by diminishing the bulk of, as of a liquid; condensing.

3. The strengthening of a drug or other preparation by the evaporation of its non-active parts.

protein

DEFINITION:

Any of a group of complex organic compounds which contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and usually sulfur, the characteristic element being nitrogen, and which are widely distributed in plants and animals. Proteins, the principal constituents of the protoplasm of all cells, are of high molecular weight and consist essentially of combinations of a-amino acids in peptide linkages. Twenty different amino acids are commonly found in proteins, and each protein has a unique, genetically defined amino acid sequence which determines its specific shape and function. They serve as enzymes, structural elements, hormones, immunoglobulins, etc., and are involved in oxygen transport, muscle contraction, electron transport, and other activities throughout the body, and in photosynthesis.

binding protein - any of a number of plasma proteins (See below) that bind to hormones of low solubility (chiefly the thyroid and steroid hormones), thus providing a transport system for them; some are specific for particular hormones, while others bind to any sparingly soluble hormones. Called also carrier protein or transport protein (See below).

carrier proteins - A binding protein (See above).

plasma proteins - The hundreds of different proteins present in blood plasma, including carrier proteins (such as albumin, transferrin, and haptoglobin), fibrinogen and other coagulation factors, complement components, immunoglobulins, enzyme inhibitors, precursors of substances such as angiotensin and bradykinin, and many other types of proteins.

transport protein - binding protein (See above).

uremia

DEFINITION:

1. An excess in the blood of urea, creatinine, and other nitrogenous end products of protein and amino acid metabolism; more correctly referred to as azotemia .

2. In current usage the entire constellation of signs and symptoms of chronic renal failure, including nausea, vomiting, anorexia, a metallic taste in the mouth, a characteristic odor of the breath, pruritus, urea frost on the skin, neuromuscular disorders, pain and twitching in the muscles, hypertension, edema, mental confusion, and acid-base and electrolyte imbalances.

liver

DEFINITION:

1. A large gland of a dark-red color situated in the upper part of the abdomen on the right side. Its manifold functions include the storage and filtration of blood, the secretion of bile, the excretion of bilirubin and other substances formed elsewhere in the body, and numerous metabolic functions, including the conversion of sugars into glycogen, which it stores.

2. The same gland of certain animals sometimes used as food or from which pharmaceutical products are prepared.

urea transporter protein

DEFINITION:

A transport protein for urea.

regulation

DEFINITION:

1. The act of adjusting or state or being adjusted to a certain standard.
2. In biology, the adaptation of form or behavior of an organism to changed conditions.
3. The power to form a whole embryo from stages before the gastrula.