One of the main functions of the adult kidney is to maintain a constant extracellular fluid balance. The adult kidney does this, by and large, by filtering a massive quantity of fluid and reabsorbing the solutes needed to maintain volume and electrolyte homeostasis, while leaving the waste products to be excreted in the urine. One of the most precisely regulated functions of the adult kidney is to maintain sodium balance. The challenge of the neonatal kidney is even greater. It must maintain a positive salt balance for growth while the neonate is fed a diet that is very low in sodium. This review focuses on how the neonatal kidney reabsorbs NaCl with a special emphasis on the differences between the neonatal and adult kidney.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Obstetrics and Gynecology