Three dimensional multiscalar neurovascular nephron connectivity map of the human kidney across the lifespan
Abstract The human kidney maintains homeostasis through a complex network of up to a million nephrons, its fundamental tissue units. Using innovative tissue processing and light sheet fluorescence microscopy, we mapped the 3D neurovascular connectivity of nephrons to understand how their structural...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60435-8 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849725109005189120 |
|---|---|
| author | Liam McLaughlin Bo Zhang Siddharth Sharma Amanda L. Knoten Madhurima Kaushal Jeffrey M. Purkerson Heidie L. Huyck Gloria S. Pryhuber Joseph P. Gaut Sanjay Jain |
| author_facet | Liam McLaughlin Bo Zhang Siddharth Sharma Amanda L. Knoten Madhurima Kaushal Jeffrey M. Purkerson Heidie L. Huyck Gloria S. Pryhuber Joseph P. Gaut Sanjay Jain |
| author_sort | Liam McLaughlin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The human kidney maintains homeostasis through a complex network of up to a million nephrons, its fundamental tissue units. Using innovative tissue processing and light sheet fluorescence microscopy, we mapped the 3D neurovascular connectivity of nephrons to understand how their structural organization enables coordinated functions like filtration, absorption, and blood pressure regulation. Our analysis revealed developmental changes in glomerular orientation, density, volume, and innervation from birth through aging. We discovered an extensive nerve network connecting different nephron segments and organizing glomeruli into distinct communities. These communities are linked through “mother glomeruli” that serve as control centers, creating a repeating pattern throughout the cortex. This sophisticated neural organization, which is underdeveloped in newborn kidneys and disrupted in conditions like diabetes and hydronephrosis, appears to facilitate synchronized responses to maintain fluid balance. The findings provide insights into how the kidney’s structural architecture enables coordinated function across its numerous nephrons. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-285db5ec60ad4e36aa8c88fc20dcf649 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-285db5ec60ad4e36aa8c88fc20dcf6492025-08-20T03:10:34ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-06-0116112210.1038/s41467-025-60435-8Three dimensional multiscalar neurovascular nephron connectivity map of the human kidney across the lifespanLiam McLaughlin0Bo Zhang1Siddharth Sharma2Amanda L. Knoten3Madhurima Kaushal4Jeffrey M. Purkerson5Heidie L. Huyck6Gloria S. Pryhuber7Joseph P. Gaut8Sanjay Jain9Department of Medicine, Washington University School of MedicineDepartment of Medicine, Washington University School of MedicineDepartment of Medicine, Washington University School of MedicineDepartment of Medicine, Washington University School of MedicineDepartment of Medicine, Washington University School of MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical CenterDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical CenterDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical CenterDepartment of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of MedicineDepartment of Medicine, Washington University School of MedicineAbstract The human kidney maintains homeostasis through a complex network of up to a million nephrons, its fundamental tissue units. Using innovative tissue processing and light sheet fluorescence microscopy, we mapped the 3D neurovascular connectivity of nephrons to understand how their structural organization enables coordinated functions like filtration, absorption, and blood pressure regulation. Our analysis revealed developmental changes in glomerular orientation, density, volume, and innervation from birth through aging. We discovered an extensive nerve network connecting different nephron segments and organizing glomeruli into distinct communities. These communities are linked through “mother glomeruli” that serve as control centers, creating a repeating pattern throughout the cortex. This sophisticated neural organization, which is underdeveloped in newborn kidneys and disrupted in conditions like diabetes and hydronephrosis, appears to facilitate synchronized responses to maintain fluid balance. The findings provide insights into how the kidney’s structural architecture enables coordinated function across its numerous nephrons.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60435-8 |
| spellingShingle | Liam McLaughlin Bo Zhang Siddharth Sharma Amanda L. Knoten Madhurima Kaushal Jeffrey M. Purkerson Heidie L. Huyck Gloria S. Pryhuber Joseph P. Gaut Sanjay Jain Three dimensional multiscalar neurovascular nephron connectivity map of the human kidney across the lifespan Nature Communications |
| title | Three dimensional multiscalar neurovascular nephron connectivity map of the human kidney across the lifespan |
| title_full | Three dimensional multiscalar neurovascular nephron connectivity map of the human kidney across the lifespan |
| title_fullStr | Three dimensional multiscalar neurovascular nephron connectivity map of the human kidney across the lifespan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Three dimensional multiscalar neurovascular nephron connectivity map of the human kidney across the lifespan |
| title_short | Three dimensional multiscalar neurovascular nephron connectivity map of the human kidney across the lifespan |
| title_sort | three dimensional multiscalar neurovascular nephron connectivity map of the human kidney across the lifespan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60435-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT liammclaughlin threedimensionalmultiscalarneurovascularnephronconnectivitymapofthehumankidneyacrossthelifespan AT bozhang threedimensionalmultiscalarneurovascularnephronconnectivitymapofthehumankidneyacrossthelifespan AT siddharthsharma threedimensionalmultiscalarneurovascularnephronconnectivitymapofthehumankidneyacrossthelifespan AT amandalknoten threedimensionalmultiscalarneurovascularnephronconnectivitymapofthehumankidneyacrossthelifespan AT madhurimakaushal threedimensionalmultiscalarneurovascularnephronconnectivitymapofthehumankidneyacrossthelifespan AT jeffreympurkerson threedimensionalmultiscalarneurovascularnephronconnectivitymapofthehumankidneyacrossthelifespan AT heidielhuyck threedimensionalmultiscalarneurovascularnephronconnectivitymapofthehumankidneyacrossthelifespan AT gloriaspryhuber threedimensionalmultiscalarneurovascularnephronconnectivitymapofthehumankidneyacrossthelifespan AT josephpgaut threedimensionalmultiscalarneurovascularnephronconnectivitymapofthehumankidneyacrossthelifespan AT sanjayjain threedimensionalmultiscalarneurovascularnephronconnectivitymapofthehumankidneyacrossthelifespan |