formation of urine Flashcards
what are the 5 stages of urine formation?
1) glomerulus: filtration of blood
2) proximal tubule: reabsorption of filtrate, secretion into tubule
3) loop of Henle: concentration of urine
4) distal tubule: modification of urine
5) collecting duct: final modification of urine
what is the force of filtration?
- blood pressure
- differing diameter of afferent and efferent arterioles
what is the glomerular filtration rate?
125mL/min
what is the normal plasma volume?
2-3L
what are the 2 factors filtration are dependent on?
1) blood pressure
2) renal blood flow
where does the filtrate have to pass through?
1) pores in the glomerular capillary endothelium
2) the basement membrane of the Bowman’s capsule
3) epithelial cells of Bowman’s capsule via filtration slits into capsular space
what are the characteristics of glomerular filtrate rate?
- this is the rate at which filtrate is produced in the kidneys
- it remains constant even when systemic BP changed
- this involved a regulatory mechanism known as auto regulation of renal blood blow
how is renal blood flow autoregulated?
- renal blood flow subject to auto regulation over broad range of systemic BPs
- autoregulation persists in denervated kidneys and isolated perfusion kidneys so it isn’t a neuronal, hormonal response but instead a local effect
what are the 2 hypothesis of auto regulation of renal blood flow?
1) myogenic: autoregulation is due to response of renal arterioles to stretch
2) metabolic: renal metabolites modulate afferent and efferent arteriolar contraction and dilation
how do changes in GFR alter the systemic blood pressure?
1) a drop in filtration pressure causes a drop in GFR
2) lower GFR means less Na+ enters the proximal tubule
3) the macula densa senses a change in tubular Na+ levels
4) this stimulates juxtaglomerular cells to release renin into the blood
5) renin release leads to generation of angiotensin II
6) Ang II is a vasoconstrictor which causes BP to increase
7) increased BP causes filtration pressure to increase and GFR returns to normal
what happens when glomerular filtrate enters the proximal tubule?
60-70% of filtered water, Na+, HCO3-, Cl-, K+ and urea are reabsorbed from the PT
what is almost completely reabsorbed in the proximal tubule?
- glucose
- amino acids
- small amounts of filtered proteins
how does Na+/K+/ATPase drive reabsorption?
- Na+/K+/ATPase pumps out Na_ from cells into the blood against chemical and electrical gradients
- this process requires energy in the form of ATP
- accompanied by entry of K+ ions which rapidly diffuses out of cell
- the ratio of transport is 3 Na+ leaving cell: 2 K+ entering cell
how is sodium reabsorbed from the proximal tubule?
- PT cells have a low intracellular Na+ concentration due to action of the Na+/K+/ATPase
- Cl- follows Na+ by facilitated diffusion
- phosphate and sulphate are also co-transported with Na+
- PT cells have an overall negative charge due to the presence of intracellular proteins
how is water reabsorbed from the proximal tubule?
- 60-70% filtered water reabsorbed in the PT: active transport of Na+ out of the PT cells is the driving force
- movement of solutes reduces osmolarity of tubular fluid and increases osmolarity of interstitial fluid
- a net flow of water from tubule lumen to lateral spaces occurs by transcellular and paracellular routes
- transcellular routes involve aquaporin channel locates on apical and basolateral surfaces
- there is no active water reabsorption along nephron: it occurs by osmosis and it follows sodium
- PT is highly permeable to water
- water flow from tubule to lateral spaces occurs by paracellular and transcqallular routes
- transcellular routes involve aquaporins: specific water channels located in cell membranes
how many aquaporins have been identified?
13 (6 in the kidney)
where is aquaporin 1 found?
abundant distribution in proximal tubule. also other parts of tubule where water is reabsorbed
where is aquaporin 2 found?
present in the collecting duct on apical surface
what controls the expression of aquaporin 2?
anti diuretic hormone (ADH)
where are aquaporins 3 and 4 found?
present in basolateral surface of tubular cells involved in water reabsorption
what 4 things are reabsorbed other than water in the proximal tubule?
- potassium
- urea
- amino acids
- proteins
how much of potassium is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule?
70% of filtered K+ is reabsorbed in the PT, mostly passively via tight junctions
how much of urea is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule?
40-50% filtered urea is reabsorbed passively in the PT down its concentration gradient
where are amino acids reabsorbed in the proximal tubule?
- 7 independent transport processes for reabsorption of AAs from the PT: depends on type of AA
- high Tm for transport so that as much as possible is reabsorbed from PT
where are proteins reabsorbed in the proximal tubule?
reabsorbed from the PT via receptor-mediated endocytosis
how is protein reabsorbed from the proximal tubule?
- small amounts of protein pass into filtrate via the glomerulus
- these are reabsorbed by pinocytosis
- vesicles transported into cell, degraded by lysosome and amino acids returned to blood
- only limited transport capacity (low Tm)
- proteinuria is a sign of glomerular damage and impending renal failure
how does secretion into the proximal tubule work?
- some endogenous substances and drugs cannot be filtered at the glomerulus which may be due to their size or protein binding
- specialised pumps in the PT can transport compounds from the plasma into the nephron