Mostly Biomathematics Lunchtime Seminar

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Simulation of kidney function: modeling accomplishments and unsolved problems

Speaker: Alan M. Weinstein, Emeritus Professor of Physiology and Biophysics Weill Medical College

Location: Warren Weaver Hall 1314

Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 12:45 p.m.

Synopsis:

Modeling kidney function has entailed representations of kidney tubule segments and their concatenation to form nephrons. With inclusion of blood vessels and conservation relations for the interstitial compartments, a full kidney simulation is established.  Review of model performance over several decades shows productive engagement of segmental models with important physiological problems.  These have been used in collaborations to provide guidance for experimental design and context for interpreting results.  Despite realistic tubule segments, overall medullary function has resisted simulation. For decades, models from several workers have been unable to capture the medullary osmotic gradient that underlies water conservation.  More recent models raise additional concerns with their prediction of unrealistically high medullary CO₂ and low medullary ammonia.  It is speculated that the physiology of capillary erythrocytes may be helpful in rationalizing some of these discrepancies.