9.5 Endocrine Functions of the Kidney

Question 1

List 4 hormones (or hormone-like substances) produced by the kidneys

Answer 1

1. EPO
2. Calcitriol
3. Renin
4. Prostaglandins (think about the pharmacological implications…)

Question 2

How do the kidneys detect oxygen levels? What do they release in response to hypoxia, where does it bind, and what does it do?

Answer 2

• Detect due to accumulation of Hypoxia Induced Factors (HIF), which are transcription factors that rapidly degrade under normal conditions, but remain in hypoxia.
• Hypoxia also causes ROS buildup

In response to this, peritubular cells release EPO. EPO binds to erythrocyte precursors in the bone marrow, which prompts them to divide and mature.

Question 3

Which cells of the kidney produce and secrete EPO?

Answer 3

Peritubular cells