Martin J E, Sheaff M T
Pathology Group, Institute of Cell and Molecular Sciences, St Bartholomew's and the London Hospital School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
J Pathol. 2007 Jan;211(2):198-205. doi: 10.1002/path.2111.
The function of the kidney, as well as its morphology, changes markedly with age. The glomerular filtration rate falls progressively, independent of overt pathology. Glomerular, vascular and accompanying parenchymal changes occur and other disorders associated with ageing, such as diabetes and hypertension, have a stochastic deleterious effect on both form and function. Declining renal function with age has important implications, not only for individual homeostasis but also for the use of drug therapy and for the receipt and donation of organs for transplantation. Molecular mechanisms and cellular changes underlying some of the functional and structural changes associated with ageing are becoming clearer, as are some of the ways in which genetic background, age and disease can combine to produce functional damage.
肾脏的功能及其形态会随着年龄的增长而发生显著变化。肾小球滤过率会逐渐下降，与明显的病理状况无关。肾小球、血管及伴随的实质组织会发生变化，而其他与衰老相关的疾病，如糖尿病和高血压，会对肾脏的形态和功能产生随机的有害影响。肾功能随年龄下降不仅对个体内环境稳定具有重要意义，而且对药物治疗的应用以及器官移植的接受和捐赠也有重要影响。与衰老相关的一些功能和结构变化背后的分子机制和细胞变化正变得越来越清晰，遗传背景、年龄和疾病相互作用导致功能损伤的一些方式也日益明确。
