Calcium homeostasis Flashcards
What is intracellular Ca2+ concentration?
0.1 micromolar
What is extracellular Ca2+ concentration?
2.4 mmol
What demands are stronger, plasma calcium or bone calcium?
Demands of plasma calcium are stronger, and the bones contains huge reserves of calcium that can be drawn on for some time before there is any appreciable weakening of the bones.
What is hypocalcaemia?
(Total Ca2+ < 1.2-1.5 mM) is very dangerous.
It increases neuronal membrane excitability by increasing sodium permeability causing tetany which is involuntary nerve-induced spasm of skeletal muscles.
Heart QT is also increased and heart failure may occur.
What is hypercalcaemia?
Only dangerous in the long term.
Decreases neuron excitability; calcium salts are rather insoluble so urinary stones and tissue calcification occurs.
Attempts to secrete excess calcium via urine causes polyuria, which leads to dehydration and exacerbates the problem.
How is calcium stored in bone?
99% is hydroxyapatite in a rather stable pool, 1% (250 mmol) is readily exchangeable.
How is phosphorous stored in the body?
85% in the skeleton as hydroxyapatite, 15% in soft tissues.
How is calcium gained and lost in the gut?
Gained through diet, lost through faeces
Is Ca2+ freely filtered in the kidney?
Ionised and complexed Ca2+ is freely filtered; protein-bound is not filtered.
Loss in urine
How does Ca2+ vary in foetus, pregnancy, puberty and old age?
Fetal plasma Ca2+ is slightly higher
Children, pregnant, lactating women: net accumulation of Ca2+ (3 mmoles/l)
Puberty: net accumulation of roughly (5 mmoles/l)
○ Postmenopause/ageing: Ca2+ loss and osteoporosis.
Is parathyroid hormone essential for life?
Yes
When and where is PTH released
PTH, a peptide hormone, is secreted from the parathyroid glands in response to falling plasma Ca2+ sensed by calcium receptors (G protein coupled).
PTH effects
PTH restores low plasma Ca2+ to normal and causes increased phosphate loss.
PTH effect on the kidney
Inhibits Na-phosphate cotransport and phosphate reabsorption in the kidney; phosphate loss causes an increase in Ca2+ mobilisation.
Increases Ca2+ reabsorption in the distal kidney tubule and collecting duct (independent of Na+ )
Increases activity of 1 alpha-hydroxylase and production of 1,25-OHD3
PTH effect on bone
Rapid effects: stimulates Ca2+ flux from bone across bone-lining cells; reorganises osteoblasts to allow (a) calcium efflux from matrix; (b) access of osteoclasts.
Long term osteoclast activation. Excess PTH limits growth of osteoblasts and bone matrix synthesis, causes destruction of bone.
PTH insufficiency
Hypoparathyroidism – low plasma Ca2+, tetany; pseudohypoparathyroidism – resistance to PTH due to receptor defect.
PTH excess
Hyperparathyroidism (tumours) – raised plasma Ca2+, bone destruction, urinary stones, sluggish CNS.
Vitamin D is
Calcitriol – 1,25(OH)2D3
What does vit D do to Ca2+?
Increases body calcium
Vit D synthesis
Synthesised in skin from cholesterol.
UV light converts a cholesterol derivative to cholecalciferol = Vitamin D3.
In the liver 25-hydroxylase -> 25-OHD3 (a long-lived inactive precursor store).
In kidney 1-alpha-hydroxylase -> 1,25(OH)2D3.
What receptors does vit 1,25-D3 act on?
Nuclear receptors
D3 on intestine
Increases uptake of Ca2+ via synthesis of the calcium binding protein, calbindin.
D3 in kidney
Facilitates conservation of calcium and phosphate for growth and repair.