part of part of vasa recta cell vasa recta ascending limb cell https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_1001131 A cell that is part of some vasa recta ascending limb. https://cdn.humanatlas.io/digital-objects/2d-ftu/kidney-ascending-thin-loop-of-henle/v1.2/assets/2d-ftu-kidney-ascending-thin-loop-of-henle.png KUPO:0001074 It is known in some mammalian species that this cell may express PV-1, a component of the fenestral diaphragm. The vasa recta ascending limb cells are specialized epithelial cells that are part of the vasa recta in the kidney, a crucial component of the renal medulla that functions as a counter-current exchanger to maintain the concentration gradient required for water reabsorption. These particular cells are located in the ascending limb of the vasa recta, which takes blood flow from the medulla back to the cortex. The primary function of vasa recta ascending limb cells is to preserve the renal medulla's hypertonicity, necessary for the kidney's urine concentration mechanism. Unlike the vasa recta descending limb cells, the venous-like epithelial cells of the ascending vasa recta are highly fenestrated and lack pericyte coverage, which facilitates water reuptake. As the blood flows through the ascending limb, it loses solutes and gains water, which is driven by the high solute concentration in the surrounding interstitium. This process acts in concert with cellular action in the descending limb and contributions from the so-called Loop of Henle, which helps with water and sodium chloride retrieval from the urine. In the context of normal physiological processes, the function of the vasa recta ascending limb cells is essential in maintaining the body's overall fluid balance, electrolyte concentration, and systemic blood pressure. Any dysfunction in these cells may lead to impaired urine concentration or dilution capability of the kidney, potentially resulting in conditions like diabetes insipidus or hyponatremia. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) Homo sapiens ascending vasa recta