Scaling of osmotic regulation in mammals and birds

Abstract

Allometric equations provide a means of summarizing and relating the components of renal structure and function in water balance and osmotic regulation. These summary equations also serve as base lines for evaluating adaptations to stressful environments and for comparisons of kidney designs and osmotic strategies of ureotelic mammals and uricotelic birds. Many of the functions can be quantitatively related to the M3/4 scaling of metabolic rates.