Where is aldosterone produced? What stimulates / inhibits its production?
What are the effects of ANP to stimulate natriuresis
What is the effect of catecholamines on natriuresis
Catecholamines increase sodium reabsorption by:
- vasoconstriction the efferent arteriole (-> lower hydrostatic pressure in peritubular capillaries and increased reabsorption)
- stimulation of Na reabsorption in the proximal tubule (alpha1-adrenergic effect)
- stimulation of renin release (beta1-adrenergic effect)
What vasopressin receptors are found in the kidneys and where? What is their effect?
V2 receptors (Gs type of G protein coupled receptor), on the principal cells in the late distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct
Trigger expression of aquaporin 2 on the luminal membranes on the principal cells
Name causes of central and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
Central:
- Congenital
- Traumatic
- Neoplastic
- Idiopathic
Nephrogenic:
- Congenital
- Glucocorticoids
- E Coli endotoxin
- Hypercalcemia
- Hyperthyroidism
- Liver insufficiency
- Hypoadrenocorticism
- Post-obstructive diuresis
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Chronic nephritis
What is the clearance of a substance
The volume of plasma that is cleared from the substance per unit of time
Formula for renal clearance of a substance
Clearance (mL/min) = [urine concentration (mg/mL) * urine output (mL/min)] / plasma concentration (mg/mL)
What fraction of CO is the renal blood flow? How is it separated between cortex and medulla?
22-25% of CO
Medullary blood flow is only 1-2% of entire blood flow (cortex gets most of it)
Name hormones / molecules causing vasoconstriction / vasodilation of renal arterioles. Indicate if there is a difference between afferent and efferent arterioles.
Vasoconstriction:
- Norepinephrine, epinephrine (both but slightly more efferent)
- Angiotensin II (more efferent)
Vasodilation:
- Dopamine
- Prostaglandins E2 and I2
- Bradykinin
- NO
- ANP (afferent only with slight vasoconstriction of efferent)
What are the 2 mechanisms of auto-regulation of renal blood flow
What is the renal filtration fraction? What is it normally?
Fraction of renal plasma flow that is filtered across the glomerular capillaries
FF = GFR / RPF = GFR / [RBF * (1 - Hct)]
with RPF = renal plasma flow and RBF = renal blood flow
Normal is 20% (varies for each solute)
What law determines glomerular filtration
Starling’s law
Jv = Kf*[(Pc-Pi) - s(pc-pi)]
where the interstitial space is the Bowman’s space here
How to calculate the reabsorption rate of a substance
Reabsorption rate = filtered load - excretion rate
Filtered load = GFR * plasma concentration of substance
Excretion rate = UOP * urine concentration of substance
At what urine pH will weak acids / weak bases be better excreted in urine
Because they are in ionized form in the urine and cannot “back-diffuse” in the blood
Explain glomerulotubular balance
It means that the proximal tubular reabsorption rate of Na+ changes with the glomerular filtration rate to maintain a constant fractional reabsorption of Na and H2O.
When GFR increases, the oncotic pressure in the peri-tubular capillaries increases (proteins are more concentrated due to higher fluid filtration). Following Starling’s law, this increases reabsorption of water and solute in the peri-tubular capillary, which maintains the osmotic gradient between the peri-tubular space and the tubular cell, which promotes re-absorption of water and solutes.
In what tubular segments is Na reabsorbed? In what proportions and with which other solutes?
What is the excretion fraction of Na and K
Na: < 1% (freely filtered but almost fully reabsorbed)
K: variable (1-110%)
In what tubular segments is K reabsorbed/secreted? In what proportions?
What factors influence K+ distal tubular excretion
Why does alkalosis increase renal K excretion
What is the action of loop diuretics / thiazide diuretics on urinary Ca excretion
What are the 2 mechanisms required for establishment of the corticomedullary gradient? What hormone influences these mechanisms?
Both under the influence of ADH
What is the urine osmolality in the different tubular segments in the presence / absence of ADH?
What are the most important tubular segments for urine dilution / urine concentration