Molecular biology of water and salt regulation in the kidney

The kidney plays a central role in the regulation of the salt and water balance, which depends upon an array of solute and water transporters in the renal tubules and upon vascular elements in the various regions of the kidney. Many recent studies have improved our understanding of this process. In this review, we summarize the current data on the molecules involved in sodium and water transport in the renal tubules, focusing in particular on aquaporins and renal sodium transporters and channels.