A computational-experimental protocol for investigating the quantity and anatomical location of pre-glomerular oxygen shunting (890.13)

Determination of the magnitude and location of pre-glomerular oxygen shunting is critical in understanding its role in renal hypoxia. Unfortunately, experimental studies have been unable to quantify the magnitude and location of pre-glomerular oxygen shunting. Computational models could theoretically fill this void by providing quantitative information related to renal oxygen shunting. However, their use is limited by uncertainty in model parameters. In this study we show the benefits of integrating oxygen pulse experiments with computational models of oxygen transport to quantitatively analyze oxygen shunting. The method involves injecting an oxygen pulse of known shape into the renal artery and monitoring the oxygen concentration profile at the renal vein exit. The shape and timing of the venous oxygen elution curve indicates the magnitude and location of oxygen shunting along the renal vasculature. Here, we developed a transient computational model for oxygen transport in pre-glomerular vasculature simulating the above experimental protocol. The role of shunting on renal vascular oxygen transport is investigated by varying the shape of the input oxygen pulse in the renal artery and recording the timing and shapes of the corresponding exit pulses in the renal vein. The oxygen shunting parameters in our model can subsequently be fine-tuned to match the pulse shapes from experimental data. The fine-tuned model can then provide definitive answers about the magnitude and location of oxygen shunting