Volume reflex in diabetes.

After examining various components of the volume reflex in different models of diabetic rats, it is clear that the neural component of the volume reflex is altered in the early stage of diabetes. Nevertheless, the mechanisms involved in the neural component need to be examined further in diabetes. In terms of the humoral component of the effector limb of the volume reflex, the actions of ANF within the kidney appear to contribute to the altered volume reflex in diabetes. Results of our preliminary studies suggest that intrarenal factors may also contribute to the blunted renal excretory responses to acute VE in early diabetes. Finally, the present review has outlined the major abnormalities in the volume reflex in diabetes and the gaps in our knowledge of the various components of the volume reflex in diabetes.