PBL 7 Flashcards
How many nephrons does each kidney have roughly?
1.25 million
What are podocytes?
Specialised cells within the visceral epithelium that have pedicals with filtration slits between each pedical - this allows small molecules to filter out of the blood
What are mesangial cells?
Supporting cells that lie in between adjacent capillaries and control capillary diameter and the rate of capillary blood flow
What are the four parts of the loop of Henle?
Thick descending limb
Thin descending limb
Thin ascending limb
Thick ascending limb
What is the difference in epithelium between the thick and thin limbs of the loop and Henle?
Thick limb - cuboidal epithelium
Thin limb - squamous epithelium
Where is the juxtaglomerular complex found?
Near the renal corpuscle
What does the juxtaglomerular complex secrete?
Erythropoietin and the enzyme renin
Where can the macular densa be found?
In the juxtaglomerular complex
What percentage of nephrons are cortical nephrons in the kidney?
85%
Which type of nephron enable the kidney to produce concentrated urine?
Juxtamedullary nephrons
What are the two kinds of barrier that are present in the glomerulus?
Charge barrier - negatively charged molecules on basement membrane act to repel negatively charged ions but encourage positive charged ions through
Size barrier - so only small molecules are filtered through
Which components of the GFR equation favour and oppose filtration?
Hydrostatic pressure in glomerulus capillaries - favours filtration
Oncotic pressure in glomerulus capillaries - opposes filtration
Hydrostatic pressure in bowman’s capsule - opposes filtration
How does GFR remain the same despite changes in blood pressure?
Due to auto regulation by increased vascular resistance - afferent arteriole will constrict so that glomerular capillary pressure remains the same and renal blood flow remains the same
What are the two mechanisms by which autoregulation occurs?
Myogenic - vascular smooth muscle responds to stretch by vasoconstriction
Tubuloglomerular - distal tubular flow regulates vasoconstriction
How does tubuloglomerular feedback regulate increased GFR?
An increase in BP leads to increased GFR
Macula densa cells sense increased Na+K+2Cl- concentration by taking up Na+K+2Cl- by the NKCC2 transporter
This causes ATP release which triggers calcium release
This causes secretion of renin which produces angiotensin II
Angiotensin II acts as a vasoconstrictor to increases preglomerular resistance, decreasing GFR and keeping it maintained
What is the best marker for GFR used currently in clinical practice?
Creatine
What is the gold standard for estimating GFR?
Insulin
What is the point of filtering out so much sodium just for it to be reabsorbed?
Sodium is “cheaper” to regulate opposed to other substances e.g, water and glucose
If you regulate sodium then water will follow via osmosis
If you regulate sodium then it can give glucose a “free ride”
What percentage of sodium is reabsorbed at the different parts of the nephron?
Proximal tubule - 67%
Loop of Henle - 25%
Distal tubule and collecting duct - 8%
What is the mechanism for sodium reabsorption at the late proximal tubule?
Na+K+ pump sets sodium gradient on basolateral membrane
NHE-3 exchanger brings Na+ into cell in exchange for H+
What is the mechanism for sodium reabsorption at the late distal tubule?
Na+K+ pump on basolateral membrane sets sodium gradient
Aldosterone causes insertion of ENaC channels on apical membrane
ENaC is a sodium channel which allows sodium reabsorption
What 2 channels does aldosterone initiate the transcription of to then be inserted into the apical membrane of the distal tubule?
ENaC - sodium channel
Potassium channel
Why are the effects of aldosterone slow acting?
Because it combines with cytoplasmic receptor to form a hormone receptor complex
Alters transcription so has a slow genomic effect (24-48 hours)
How many glucose and sodium does the SGLT1 transporter carry?
1 glucose
2 Na+
How many glucose and sodium does the SGLT2 transporter carry?
1 glucose
1 Na+
Where are the SGLT1 and SGLT2 transporters found in the kidney?
SGLT1: late proximal convoluted tubule
SGLT2: early proximal convoluted tubule
Where does glucose reabsorption occur in the nephron?
Proximal convoluted tubule
Describe how glucose is reabsorbed at the early proximal convoluted tubule
Na+K+ pump sets up sodium gradient at basolateral membrane
SGLT2 brings in 1 Na+ with 1 glucose
Glucose enters circulation via GLUT2
Describe how glucose is reabsorbed at the late proximal convoluted tubule
Na+K+ pump sets up sodium gradient at basolateral membrane
SGLT1 brings in 2 Na+ with 1 glucose
Glucose enters circulation via GLUT1
What is the difference between glucose absorption at the early proximal and late proximal convoluted tubule?
Early proximal - low affinity, high capacity
Late proximal - high affinity, low capacity
What is the transport maximum for glucose?
1.2mmol/min
When does glucose appear in urine?
When glucose conc is so high that it exceeds the Tm, therefore it cannot all be reabsorbed so it is excreted in urine
What is splay?
Accounts for the different capacity of each individual nephron to absorb glucose
What is the difference in glucose metabolism in the kidney cortex and medulla?
Cortex - Gluconeogenesis
Medulla - glycolysis
Which nephrons are involved in concentrating urine and why?
Juxtamedullary nephrons - due to their long loop of henle