What happens when kidney cells can't respond to insulin?
Reduced ENaC activity and blood pressure in mice with genetic knockout of the insulin receptor in the renal collecting duct.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Deleting insulin receptors only in kidney cells completely blocked insulin’s ability to lower blood pressure and heart rate.
It was previously unclear whether insulin’s cardiovascular effects were direct or indirect; this shows the kidney may be essential—even for systemic effects.
Practical Takeaways
Maintaining healthy insulin sensitivity may support healthy blood pressure regulation through kidney function.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Deleting insulin receptors only in kidney cells completely blocked insulin’s ability to lower blood pressure and heart rate.
It was previously unclear whether insulin’s cardiovascular effects were direct or indirect; this shows the kidney may be essential—even for systemic effects.
Practical Takeaways
Maintaining healthy insulin sensitivity may support healthy blood pressure regulation through kidney function.
Publication
Journal
American journal of physiology. Renal physiology
Year
2013
Authors
Lijun Li, R. M. Garikepati, Susanna Tsukerman, D. Kohan, James B. Wade, Swasti Tiwari, C. Ecelbarger
Related Content
Claims (4)
When mice can't respond to insulin in a specific part of their kidneys, their bodies struggle to balance salts like sodium and potassium, especially when they eat different amounts of salt in their diet.
Insulin might lower blood pressure and heart rate in mice, but only if their kidney cells can respond to insulin — if those cells can't sense insulin, the effect goes away.
When male mice are genetically changed so their kidney cells can't respond to insulin, they lose less salt in their urine when given a certain drug, have lower levels of a salt-handling protein, and have lower blood pressure — which might mean insulin helps control blood pressure through the kidneys.
When insulin levels go down, your kidneys get rid of more water and salts, so you need to drink fluids with minerals to stay hydrated.