ROLE OF ANGIOTENSIN IN THE CONGENITAL-ANOMALIES OF THE KIDNEY AND URINARY-TRACT IN THE MOUSE AND THE HUMAN

The role of angiotensin in fluid and electrolyte and blood pressure ho meostasis is well known. Recent developments indicate that angiotensin has a profound role not only in the developing urinary tract but also in the response of the urinary tract to specific noxious stimuli. Fur thermore, the role of angiotensin II and its receptor has been underst ood quite poorly with respect to the developing renal unit. Knockout m ice for the ATR2 gene show a significant incidence of congenital urina ry tract anomalies. The congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) seen in these mice are very similar to the anomalies ob served in humans. This has been supported further by the finding of an abnormality in the genetic sequence in patients with CAKUT. This arti cle reviews experimental laboratory data as well as the potential impl ications for humans.