Drosophila: A fruitful model for calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis

Abstract

Even though the prevalence of nephrolithiasis is increasing, our understanding of the pathophysiology has not kept pace and new therapeutic approaches have not emerged. The potential of a new physiological model (the fruitfly) is exciting. The model has strengths, namely the low cost of maintaining colonies and rapid deployment of new transgenic lines, but also weaknesses that may ultimately limit its usefulness, such as the mechanism of tubular fluid formation and difficulties in following plasma and urine biochemistries. © 2011 International Society of Nephrology.