Physiology of Ca-Regulating Hormones Flashcards
What is the normal concentration of calcium in the serum?
9.5mg/dL (range: 8.5-10.5 mg/dL)
approx 50% is free (range: 4.5-5.6 mg/dL)
Where is most of the calcium in the body housed?
99% of calcium is in bone
Intracellular (15)
Extracellular (0.1%)
How does extracellular/plasma calcium exist?
45-50% free (hormone regulated)
40% protein bound (albumin). NOTE: an increase in pH (basic) leads to increased affinity of albumin (makes it more negatively charged) to calcium causing hypocalcemia (cramps, pain, paresthesias, and spasms)
10-15% anion-bound (HCO3-, PO4-)
How much calcium should be in a daily diet?
1000-1200mg/day
What is hypocalcemia defined as?
less than 8.5 mg/dL
hyper- 10.5+ mg/dL
Where is most of the phosphate in the body found?
85% bone
14% intracellular
0.1% extracellular
How does extracellular/plasma phosphate circulate?
55% free (as PO43-)
35% Cation bound
10% protein bound
How is the majority of calcium eliminated? phosphate?
calcium- feces
phosphate- urine
Normal phosphate concentration?
4mg/dL (range: 3-4.5 mg/dL in adults; 4.5-6.5 mg/dL in children)
Whether calcium and phosphate are deposit in bone or ersorbed depends on what?
the PRODUCT of their concentrations rather than on their individual concentrations. Thus, increased ECF concentration of either Ca2+ and PO43- favors bone mineralization (i.e. an increase in ECF PO43- alone would promote bone formation and decrease Ca2+ in serum)
NOTE: High plasma Ca-P product also favors deposit in soft tissues, increasing the risk of CV calcification
Where does PTH come from?
chief cells of the PT gland as a 84 AA peptide
How is PTH stimulated to be released?
Typically, high levels of ECF Ca2+ are sensed by a GCPR called calcium-sensing receptor, CaSR, on the parathyroid chief cells, which inhibits PTH release via a PKC mediated rise in intracellular Ca2+ which inhibits vesicle exocytotsis of PTH. When Ca2+ levels, fall, this inhibition is lost
-high levels of PO4, marginal decreases in serum Mg2+ (NOTE: large decreases in Mg2+ DECREASE PTH release), decreases in vitD
Most common causes of Mg2+ loss: diarrhea, aminoglgycosides, diuretics, alcohol abuse
What are the main effects of PTH secretion is response to decreased ECF Ca2+?
- increased Ca2+ reabsorption and decreased phosphate reabsorption by the renal tubules (aka phosphate trashing hormone)
- increased bone resorption, increasing Ca2+
- activation of vitD, which increased intestinal Ca2+ absorption
-increased urine cAMP
How does PTH increase Ca2+ transfer form bone fluid into the ECF?
Bone is immersed in an aqeuous solution containing Ca2+ and PO4 and this Ca is seperated from the ECF by an osteocytic membrane formed by osteocytes and osteoblasts (and lining cells) but is readily exchanged with the ECF. PTH increased the permeability and pump action of this osteocytic membrane, while simultaneously lowering the Ca-P product to promote demineralization
How does PTH promote bone resorption?
PTH binds to PTHR1 receptors on osteoblast membranes and stimulates the expression of RANKL. RANKL on the osteoblasts then binds to RANK on osteoclast precursors to activate gene transcription to differentiate into mature osteoclasts
What is the role of osteoprotegerin (OPG)?
This is a soluble protein secreted by osteoblasts that binds to RANKL to prevent osteoclast formation
What things increase OPG? Decrease?
increase- estrogen
decrease- PTH
Note about the use of intermittent low-dose PTH
This actually increases bone formation by promoting osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, while at the same time decreasing osteoblast apoptosis
How does PTH stimulate reabsorption of Ca?
PTH binds to principal cells in the distal nephron via a Gs associated receptor which activates PKA which:
stimulates insertion of epithelial calcium channels in the luminal membrane and extrusion pumps of the basolateral membrane
What are the effects of PTH on proximal tubule cells?
Binding of PTH to Gs associated receptors causes PKA to phosphorylate NERF (sodium hydrogen exchange regulatory factor) which causes sodium-phosphate cotransporters to be released from the luminal membrane to clathrin coated pits where they are degraded by lysosomes.
PTH also stimulates the expression and activation of 1a-hydroxylase here which activated VitD3
How is vitamin D activated?
Provitamin D (7-dehydrocholesterol) in the skin is converted to cholecalciferol by UV light which is then transported to the liver where it is hydroxylated to 25(OH)D, the major circulating form of vitamin D.
25(OH)D then circulates the kidney and is converted to 1,25(OH)2D via 1a hydroxylase in the proximal tubules OR to the less active 24,25(OH)2D
What stimulates 1a-hydroxylase? Inhibits?
stimulates; high PTH
inhibits: high calcium, vitD
What are the main roles of 1,25(OH)2D?
increases calcium and phosphate absorption from the intestine (major effect)
increases renal calcium and phosphate reabsorption
increases bone mineralization and resorption at high doses
decreases PTH formation by the parathyroids as a feedback
