Lecture 10 - Renal Regulation of Potassium, Phosphate, and Calcium Homeostasis Flashcards
Where is K+ found in the body?
- RBCs
- Muscle
- Liver
- Bone
How is K+ excreted?
Both urine (95%) and stool (5%)
Normal K+ kidney excretion rate?
90-95 mEq/day
Describe the pathway of K+ ingestion.
100 mEq/day => 5-10 mEq excreted in feces => rest is absorbed by the GIT (90 mEq) => 65 mEq left in ECF => either excreted in urine or stored in cells
Effect of increase in plasma K+?
Cell depolarization
What 3 hormones regulate the storage of K+ in cells?
- Insulin
- EPI
- Aldosterone
What 6 factors regulate the excretion/reabsorption of K+ by the kidneys?
- Plasma [K+]
- ADH
- Aldosterone
- Tubular flow rate
- Acid-base status
- Na+ intake
How is filtered K+ reabsorbed/secreted in the kidney?
- PCT: paracellular transport mostly, and also a little via primary active transport
- Thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle: very unique carrier (does not utilize energy) on the lumenal surface: 1Na+/1K+/2Cl- all pumped in due to drive of sodium gradient
COLLECTING DUCT:
3a. Principal cell of the collecting duct allows K+ to be secreted through: (1) lumenal channel and (2) lumenal K+/Cl- carrier (not active) - both after K+ has been brought in through the Na+/K+-ATPase on basolateral membrane
3b. Alpha-intercalated cell of the collecting duct allows K+ reabsorption via K+ primary active transport: simple K+ pump (then diffuses out basolateral membrane into blood)
What % of K+ filtered load is reabsorbed by the PCT and thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle? What does this mean?
90%
Means that by this point, if daily intake is normal, only 60 mmol of K+ are left (Fk=600 mmol/day), and since 90-95 mmol are excreted a day, K+ will need to be secreted by the rest of the nephron
BUT if daily intake is lower than normal, K+ might need to be reabsorbed
What is the filtered load?
= Filtration rate
How does aldosterone affect K+ homeostasis?
Stimulates K+ secretion at the collecting duct
How does dietary K+ intake affect K+ homeostasis?
Increase plasma [K+] => stimulation of cells of the adrenal cortex => increase aldosterone secretion => increase K+ secretion => increase K+ excretion
AND
Increase plasma [K+] => increase intracellular [K+] in collecting duct cells => increase K+ secretion => increase K+ excretion
How does tubular flow rate affect K+ homeostasis? What to note?
Flow rate increases in collecting duct => at higher luminal flow rates, the same amount of K+ secretion will be diluted by the larger volume such that the rise in luminal K+ concentration will be less => increased concentration gradient between blood and tubular fluid => increase K+ secretion => increase K+ excretion
To note: this effect is accentuated when dietary K+ is high and does not happen when dietary K+ is low
How do diuretics affect K+ homeostasis? Clinical implication?
Inhibition of NaCl/H2O reabsorption in proximal tubule and loop of Henle => increase rate of fluid delivery to distal tubule => increase in cell:lumen gradient for K+ diffusion => increase K+ secretion + inhibition of K+ reabsorption by diuretics in thick ascending limb => increase K+ excretion => can lead to K+ DEPLETION
Patients on diuretics need to increase their dietary K+ intake to avoid depletion (although some diuretics block the K+ channels in the distal tubule to inhibit secretion)
How does acid-base status affect K+ homeostasis? Explain in detail.
- Acidosis decreases the rate of K+ secretion (metabolic more so than respiratory): excess plasma H+ => H+ enters cells to be buffered => either Na+ or K+ needs to exit to compensate => cells have a lot of K+ => intracellular [K+] decreases => collecting duct gradient decreases => decrease K+ secretion
- Alkalosis increases the rate of K+ secretion (metabolic more so than respiratory): deficit in plasma H+ => H+ comes out of cells => K+ enters cells => intracellular [K+] increases => collecting duct gradient increases => increase K+ secretion
Effect of metabolic alkalosis + respiratory acidosis on K+ secretion?
Mild increase
How does Na+ intake affect K+ homeostasis?
Increase Na+ intake => increase in ECF volume => increase in distal tubule flow rate => increase in K+ secretion => increase in K+ excretion
Under normal K+ intake, is homeostasis maintained by regulating secretion or excretion?
SECRETION