Extra sensory perception: the role of Gpr receptors in the kidney.

Purpose of Review: This review will summarize recent literature highlighting the roles of sensory Gpr receptors and their roles in renal function.
Recent Findings: Chemoreceptors play important roles in renal physiology wherein they modulate renal function in response to ligands from a variety of sources.
Summary: As specialized chemical detectors, chemoreceptors in the kidney monitor the level of a variety of chemical ligands in the body and adjust renal function accordingly. In addition to olfactory receptors and taste receptors, G-protein coupled receptors of the orphan Gpr family are now being found to play a 'sensory' role in renal physiology. Identifying the physiological roles of these receptors and elucidating the cell biology underlying these signaling pathways can give us novel insights into renal function.