360 - Non-Protein Nitrogenous Compounds Flashcards
a mechanism for regulating body water and sodium content
reni-angiotensin-aldosterone system
The ______________ cells of the kidney release renin into the plasma in response to stimuli such as _________ or a ___________ in the sodium concentration in the fluid in the distal tubule
juxtaglomerular; hypotension; decreases
what does renin do?
catalyzes the conversion of circulating angiotensinogen to angiotensin I
what happens to angiotensin I after renin comes in?
it’s converted to angiotensin II by angiotensin-converting enzyme as it passes through the lungs
role of angiotensin II
acts on the adrenal cortex to stimulate the release of aldosterone, which acts on the kidney to promote sodium reabsorption, potassium excretion, and water retention
aldosterone stimulates this
thirst center
ADH
- synthesized and stored in the hypothalamus
- release stimulated by osmotic and barometric receptors in response to increased plasma osmolality and decreased blood volume
- ADH controls water homeostasis
- presence of ADH = the water permeability of the distal convoluted tubule and the collecting duct is increased
where is ammonia produced?
in the liver by the deamination of proteins
produced in the intestine by bacterial and endogenous enzymes
Renal tubular cells can produce ammonia from glutamine and other amino acids
what happens to ammonia produced in the renal tubular cells?
it diffuses into the tubule lumen and combines with free hydrogen ions to form ammonium
at which pH is it favourable to form ammonium??
favoured by an acidic urine pH
when is plasma [ammonia] increased?
instances of liver and kidney disease and the central nervous system disorder Reyes syndrome
most common method of measuring ammonia
glutamate dehydrogenase method
(GLDH)
specimen for measuring ammonia
heparin or EDTA
should be placed immediately at 4C
ammonia measurement interference
- hemolyzed samples should not be used (RBCs have ammonia)
- cigarette smoke significantly INCREASES ammonia concentrations
- Ethanol ingestion INCREASES ammonia
- prolonged venous occlusion and fist clenching INCREASE ammonia
- ammonium heparin anticoagulant and delayed handling INCREASES ammonia
how is creatinine formed?
formed spontaneously in skeletal muscle from creatine and by the enzymatic action of creatine kinase
Serum creatinine levels are a function of …
muscle mass, so levels are higher in males than in female
what is increased creatinine caused by ?
muscle crush injuries and by any disorder that decreases GFR
when do decreased creatinine occur?
when there is an inadequate conversion from creatine, i.e. muscular dystrophy
how is creatinine measured?
Jaffe kinetic rxn
describe the Jaffe kinetic method
- alkaline medium
- creatinine + picrate to form a creatinine-picrate complex
- absorbance at 490-500 nm
NOTE: other wavelengths have been used to reduce spectral interference
interferences with the Jaffe kinetic rxn
- ketone, ascorbate, cephalosporin, glucose and protein produce Jaffe-like chromogen and cause spectral interference
- bilirubin and hemoglobin are NEGATIVE interferents
- lipemia may introduce error
where is urea produced?
in the liver from ammonia
increased urea is associated with this
increased protein deamination due to increased dietary intake, and increased protein catabolism from tissue breakdown
what is urea an indicator of?
renal function
90% of urea is excreted by the kidneys
in severe liver disease and individuals with low protein intake, urea production DECREASES