Introduction -- ANG II and water balance in frogs -- Sex differences in ANGII hypertension -- Na-K-ATPase b subunit association with tight junction Drosophila tub size and tight junction function,- Na-K-ATPase in hypertension -- Endothelin regulation of ion transport in non-mammlian transporting epithelia -- Genetic models of Endothelin regulation of sodium transport -- miRNA and sodium and water balance in the developing zebrafish -- miRNA and sodiumand water balance in mammals -- Comparative and genetic models of WNK signaling in osmotic homeostasis -- Genetics of WNK signaling and disease in humans -- Comparative and evolutionary physiology of Water channels -- Genetic models resulting in urine concentrating defect -- Water balance in desert-adapted animals.0 Comparisons of nephron morphology and the urine concentrating mechanism -- Non-traditional models: the giraffe kidney -- Non-traditional models: insect tubule transport -- Circadian clock in ion transporters in insect vision -- Circadian clock, melatonin, and osmoregulation in fishes.  .

This book presents cutting edge methods that provide insights into the pathways by which salt and water traverse cell membranes and flow in an orchestrated fashion amongst the many compartments of the body. It focuses on a number of molecular, cellular and whole animal studies that involve multiple physiological systems and shows how the internal milieu is regulated by multifactorial gene regulation, molecular signaling, and cell and organ architecture. Topics covered include: water channels, the urinary concentrating mechanism, angiotensin, the endothelin system, miRNAs and MicroRNA in osmoregulation, desert-adapted mammals, the giraffe kidney, mosquito Malpighian tubules, and circadian rhythms. The book highlights how different approaches to explaining the same physiological processes greatly increase our understanding of these fundamental processes. Greater integration of comparative, evolutionary and genetic animal models in basic science and medical science will improve our overall grasp of the mechanisms of sodium and water balance.