Gender Differences in Renal Functioning and Disease

Before the first visit, the participant will follow a five-day high salt diet (addition of 6g/day of salt to their regular diet followed at home). Before the second visit (V2), the participant will follow for five days a low-salt diet, according to dietary instructions followed provided during the screening visit.

Renal ultrasound with use of a contrast product (SonoVue®), perfusion rate 0.015ml/kg/min. Four destruction-reperfusion sequences are performed in order to measure the Perfusion Index (PI) of the renal cortex.

Measurement of renal oxygenation with the Blood Oxygenation Level Dependant-MRI technique (BOLD-MRI) on Siemens Prisma 3T scanner before and 15minutes after 0.03mg/kg of IV furosemide. Assessment of the amount of salt stored in the skin and muscles with the 23Na MRI technique.

Assessment of sweat salt and potassium concentrations in healthy volunteers according to slat intake. Two electrodes are placed on the forearm. The electric current between the two electrodes will induce perspiration which will be collected with the Macroduct system.