Calcium and phosphate metabolism Flashcards
What and where are the body stores of calcium?
1.3kg, 99% skeleton, 1% intracellular, 0.1% ECF.
What is the standard dietary intake and absorption of calcium?
Approx 25 mmol, with net absorption 3mmol
Describe the turnover of calcium stores.
Bone turnover of 500mmol, with cell mediated bone turnover of 7mmol. GF (what is this????) 250mmol, reabsorbed 247mmol, 3mmol excreted.
Where is calcium absorbed? What is active absorption dependant on?
There is active absorption in the duodenum and upper jejunum. This is dependant on calcitriol. A small amount of passive absorption occurs downstream.
What inhibits calcium absorption?
Phosphates, oxalates, FA -> (??) form insoluble Ca2+ compounds.
How is calcium found in the plasma?
45% is protein bound to albumin, 45% is ionised (active fraction and regulated (??), 10% is in various complexes.
What is calcium binding to albumin dependant on?
pH. Acidosis causes decreased binding and therefore more free calcium. Alkalosis increases binding, makes less free calcium and increases risk of tetany.
What is the effect of PTH on the kidney?
PTH stimulates reabsorption in the distal tubule.
What occurs to calcium in the kidney?
Ionised and complexed calcium is filtered, with 99% reabsorbed. 60% in the proximal tubule, and 40% in the ascending limb of the loop of hence and the distal tubule.
Describe the body stores of phosphate.
Total body stores of phosphate are 700g, with 85% in the skeleton and a significant amount in cellular molecules.
What is the plasma concentration of phosphate?
1.2mmol/L but this varies.
What is phosphate absorption dependant on?
Dietary intake, but calcitriol stimulates absorption.
Describe urinary excretion of phosphate. What inhibits this?
85-90% of filtered phosphate is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule. This is inhibited by PTH.
Describe the parathyroid glands.
Each parathyroid gland is a richly vascularised disk 3x6x2mm containing two types of cells; chief cells (majority) and oxyphil cells(minority).
What is the role of chief cells?
Chief cells contain a prominent golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum and secretory granules, and secrete PTH
What is the role of oxyphil cells?
Oxyphil cells are larger than chief cells and have an unknown function.
Where is PTH synthesised?
In the chief cells.
Describe the synthesis and molecular makeup of PTH
Liner polypeptide with a molecular weight of 9500; 84AA. PreproPTH->EF->proPTH->PTH secretory granules.
What is the normal plasma level and half life of PTH?
10-55pg/mL, t1/2 10mins, cleared by the kidneys.
What stimulates increased secretion of PTH?
Low calcium low magnesium, high phosphate.
What inhibits secretion of PTH?
High calcium, high magnesium, calcitriol.