Lecture 13: Regulation of Calcium and Phosphate Metabolism Flashcards
Where is calcium stored?
Bones and Teeth
What is the biologically active form of calcium?
Free, ionized Ca2+
About 50% of calcium in body
What are symptoms of hypocalcemia
- Hyperreflexia
- Spontaneous twitching
- Muscle cramps
- Numbness and tingling
- Tetany
What is Chvostek sign?
Twitching of the facial muscles elicited by tapping on facial nerve
What are two indicators of hypocalcemia?
Carpopedal spasm upon inflation of blood pressure cuff
What are symptoms of hypercalcemia?
- Decreased QT interval
- Constipation
- Lack of appetite
- Polyuria
- Polydipsia
- Muscle weakness
- Hyporeflexia
- Lethargy
- Coma
How does hypocalcemia affect membrane excitability?
Low extracellular calcium
- Reduces activation threshold for Na+ channels
- Easier to evoke action potentials
- Increased membrane excitability
- Spontaneous action potentials
- Hypocalcemic tetany (spontaneous muscle contractions)
How does hypercalcemia affect membrane excitability?
High extracellular calcium
- Increases activation threshold for Na+ channels
- Harder to evoke action potentials
- Decreased membrane excitability
- Less action potentials
- Nervous system depressed and reflex responses are slowed
How can calcium concentration be altered?
- Changes in plasma protein concentration
- Increase in plasma protein means increase in total Ca2+ concentration and vice versa
- No change in Ca2+ ionized (protein changes are usually more chronic issues)
- Changing anion concentration
- Increase in Pi concentration will decrease Ca2+ ionized concentration
- Acid-Base Abnormalities
- Alters ionized concentration by changing the fraction of Ca2+ bound to albumin
What happens to calcium levels in acidemia?
- Increase in free ionized Ca2+ since less calcium is bound to albumin
- Instead, H+ is taking up Ca2+ binding spots
What happens to calcium levels in alkalemia?
- Decrease in free ionized Ca2+ because more is bound to albumin
- Less H+ bound to albumin
What three organs are important in maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis?
- Bone
- Kidney
- Intestine
What three hormones are important in maintainin Ca2+ homeostasis?
- PTH
- Vitamin D
- Calcitonin
What is the role of the kidneys to maintain calcium homeostasis?
Kidneys must excrete same amount of calcium absorbed by GI tract?
What is the relationship between calcium and phosphate concentration in the ECF?
- Inversely proportional to one another
- High Ca2+ means low Pi
- Both are regulated by the same hormones
What is the normal range for phoshate?
How is phoshpate distributed?
- 2.5-4.5 mg/dL
- Distribution of phosphate:
- 84% ionized
- 15% ICF
- 1% plasma
- mostly ionized
- some protein bound
What secretes PTH?
What stimulates the secretion of PTH?
Chiefe cells of parathyroid gland
Low calcium levels
How is PTH regulated?
- CaSR sense increasing calcium plasma levels
- Gq and Gi send inhibitory signals to PTH gene
- 1,25 Vitamin D also inhibits PTH gene
How does chronic hypercalcemia affect the regulation of PTH gene expression and secretion?
- Decrease synthesis and storage of PTH
- Breakdown of stored PTH
- Inactive PTH is released
How does chronic hypocalcemia affect the regulation of PTH gene expression and secretion?
- Increased synthesis and storage of PTH
- Hyperplasia of parathyroid glands