Final answer:
The glomerular filtration rate is not exclusively regulated by the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, but rather by a combination of systemic and autoregulatory factors that ensure stable kidney function.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is exclusively regulated by the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system is false. GFR is modulated by several factors including systemic blood pressure, autoregulatory mechanisms, sympathetic nervous activity, and paracrine hormones.
The kidneys utilize not only the sympathetic nervous system but also intrarenal mechanisms such as the myogenic mechanism and tubuloglomerular feedback to maintain a constant GFR despite fluctuations in blood pressure. Autoregulation allows the kidneys to function normally across a wide range of blood pressures, using the contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle cells in the arterioles, the paracrine signaling mechanism of the juxtaglomerular apparatus, and the production of substances like ATP, adenosine, and nitric oxide.