(9) S5) Corticopapillary Gradient and Countercurrent Exchange Flashcards
Outline the effect of water balance on plasma osmolarity
- Water intake < water excretion = plasma osmolarity ↑
- Water intake > than water excretion = plasma osmolarity ↓
What is the value for normal plasma osmolarity?
280-310 mOsm/Kg (280-310 mmol/L)
Outline the 2 different mechanisms of regulating plasma osmolarity in the body
Which sensors in the body detect changes in plasma osmolarity?
Osmoreceptors – located in the Hypothalamus (OVLT)
Where is ADH produced?
Produced by neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus
What does ADH do?
ADH acts on the kidney to increase the permeability of the collecting duct to water and urea
Describe the events occurring in the efferent pathway: ADH
- Released from posterior pituitary
- Released in conditions of predominant H2O loss
- Renal H2O excretion decreases
- Inhibited by decreased plasma osmolarity
Identify and describe 2 clinical conditions which result from problems with ADH secretion
- Central diabetes insipidus: low plasma ADH levels
- Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: acquired insensitivity of the kidney to ADH
Identify 2 forms of clinical management for low plasma ADH
- ADH injections
- ADH nasal spray treatments
Identify 5 different causes of low plasma ADH
- Damage to hypothalamus / pituitary gland
- A tumour
- An aneurysm
- Sarcoidosis
- Tuberculosis
What is Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH secretion?
- SIADH is the excessive release of ADH from the posterior pituitary gland or another source e.g. small cell lung tumour
- Dilutional hyponatremia results
Identify the different aquaporin channels and their location in the nephron
In terms of aquaporins, explain how a lack of ADH secretion leads to diuresis
- No Aquaporin 2 in apical membrane
- No AQP 3 and 4 on basolateral membrane
- Limited water reuptake in DCT2 and collecting duct
- Hyposmotic urine produced
Describe the relationship between haemodynamic and osmotic changes
Large deficits in water are only partially compensated for in the kidney.
Describe the events occuring in the efferent pathway: thirst
- Induced by increases in plasma osmolarity or by decreases in ECF volume
- Thirst increases intake of free water
- Stops when sufficient fluid has been consumed