Physiology - Renal & Acid Base Flashcards
Describe the cell types in the glomerulus and their function
- **capillary endothelium ** fenestrated with pores 70-90nm diameter, surrounded by glomerular BM and podocytes
- podocytes with numerous pseudopodia that form filtration slits 25nm wide
- mesanglial cells = stellate shaped between basal lamina and capillary endothelium, regulate GFR, Control secretion of substances and immune complexes
Describe the juxtaglomerular apparatus
- area where the first part of the DCT nestles between the afferent and efferent arterioles, important in electrolyte and fluid balance
- made up of 3 cells types: macula densa (sense Na+), granular cells (secrete renin), extraglomerular mesangiall cells
What properties of substances in the blood prevent free passage across the glomerular membrane
- negatively charged substances are less permeable due to presence of negatively charged sialoproteins in wall
- large diameter > 8nm
Draw a nephron and describe the function of each part
- glomerulus = filtration
- afferent arteriole = brings blood to glomerulus
- efferent arteriole = carries blood away from glomerulus to vasa recta
- PCT = reabsorption of most solute and water
- descending LOH = water reabsorption
- ascending LOH = solute reabsorption
- DCT = solute reabsorption and secretion
- collecting duct p cells = reabsorb Na+ and secrete K+ i cells = excrete H+
- juxtaglomerular apparatus
- macular densa = senses Na+ in DCT to control GFR
- Lacis cell = extra-glomerular mesanglial cells
- Granular cells = secretes renin
What is the normal renal blood flow and how is it measured?
renal blood flow: 1.2-1.3L/min (25% of cardiac output)
measurement: used Fick’s principle with PAH (filtered, not reabsorbed or secreted)
- calculated renal plasma flow as an estimate of renal blood flow -
effective renal plasma flow = urine concentration x flow / plasma concentration
-renal blood flow = renal plasma flow / (1-haematocrit)
What factors determine renal blood flow
- perfusion pressure = systemic MAP
- renal arterial effects = constriction or dilation of afferent/efferent arterioles by local factors
(ATII constricts efferent > afferent arterioles, GFR stable or increase; dopamine causes renal vasodilation, increasing GFR; prostaglandins cause increased blood flow in renal cortex and reduced blood flow in renal medulla)
- neuro = NA constricts renal vessels (reduces renal bf), ACh dilates renal vessels (increases renal bf)
- autoregulation = contractile response of afferent arteriole to stretch, NO/angiotensin II constrict efferent arterioles
- regional differences = cortical blood flow is high, medullary blood flow is low
How does blood flow and oxygen extraction differ in different parts of the kidney
Cortex: high blood flow, low oxygen extraction
Medulla: low blood flow, high oxygen extraction, more vulnerable to hypoxia if flow is reduced
What are the consequences of sustained reduction in renal blood flow
- renal blood flow normally maintained at a MAP 70-210mmHg
- medulla is most vulnerable to hypoxia
- ATN
- uraemia
How do kidneys regulate the composition of urine
filtration, reabsorption and secretion
What is the definition of the glomerular filtration rate and what is the normal value
amount of fluid (plasma filtrate) filtered by the glomerulus per unit time, normally 125ml/min, 10% lower in women
What factors affect the GFR
1) capillary size, regulated by mesangial cells in glomerulus
- mesangial cell relaxation causes increased filtration: ANP, D, cAMP, PGE2
- mesangial cell contraction causes decreased filtration: ADH (vasopressin), H, NA, ATII, TXA2
2) capillary permeability -renal capillaries 50x more permeable than skeletal capillaries
3) hydrostatic and oncotic pressure gradient
- constriction of afferent arterioles reduces GFR
- dilation of afferent arterioles increases GFR
- constriction of efferent arterioles increases GFR
- clinical factors: systemic BP, ureteric obstruction, plasma protein concentration
4) number of functioning renal corpuscles
What are mesanglial cells?
- contractile cells that help regulate GFR located between the basal lamina and the endothelium of the glomerulus
- also secrete extracellular matrix and take up immune complexes
Describe a method used to measure GFR
- measure excretion of a substance that is freely filtered through the glomeruli and neither secreted or reabsorbed
- must be non-toxic and not metabolised
- example: insulin (creatinine sometimes used but some creatinine is secreted by the tubules)
- GFR = concentration of substance in urine x urine flow / concentration in plasma
What general mechanisms are involved in renal tubular reabsorption and secretion?
Active or passive transport mechanisms
Active:
- primary active transport: ion channels, pumps
- co-transport/symport, exchanger/antiport
- endocytosis
Passive:
- filtration
- simple diffusion
- facilitated diffusion
What factors influence clearance of substances by the kidney?
Renal factors:
- GFR
- tubular secretion
- tubular reabsorption
Non-renal factors:
- CO
- plasma protein binding
- pH & ionisation
- influence of hormones
- pathological conditions (AKI, GN, obstruction)
How does the ascending and descending limb of the LOH differ in function
thin descending limb of LOH: permeable to water (aquaporins), tubular fluid becomes hypertonic
thin ascending limb of LOH: Na+ and Cl- channels
thick ascending limb of LOH: Na+/2Cl-/K+ pump, Na+/H+ exchanger, many mitochondria, fluid becomes hypotonic
Outline the structure and function of the LOH
structure:
- thin descending limb starts at the end of the PCT
- thin ascending becomes thick ascending limb and terminates at the DCT where the macula densa is located
- cortical nephrons (85%) have a short LOH, juxtamedullary nephrons (15%) have a long LOH
function: countercurrent multiplier
Describe the process of tubuloglomerular feedback
- signals from renal tubules feed back to affect filtration of the glomerulus
- as rate of flow at ascending LOH and DCT increases, glomerular filtration decreases
- ↑intracellular Na+ at macular densa→↑ATPase activity→↑adenosine→afferent vasoconstriction→↓GFR
How does the kidney handle glucose
- freely filtered in the glomerulus
- reabsorbed in PCT by secondary active transport (Na+ dependant co-transport) via SGLT
- all glucose is reabsorbed until the threshold is achieved (180 mg/dL)
What are the consequences of glycosuria
osmotic diuresis leading to dehydration and electrolyte loss
Where does Na+ reabsorption occur in the nephron and how is it transported from the cell into the interstitium
reabsorption on apical membrane: PCT (60%) = Na+/H+ counter-transport, Na+/glucose co-transport -thick ascending LOH (30%) = Na+/2Cl-/K+ co-transporter -DCT (7%) = Na+/Cl- co-transporter -collecting duct (3%) = ENaC, Na+/H+ counter-transporter
reabsorption on basolateral membrane: 3Na+/2K+ ATPase (3 Na+ out of cell for 2 K+ into cell)
In the PCT, what other transport proteins are involved in the movement of Na+ across the apical membrane
Na+/glucose co-transport, Na+/phosphate co-transport, Na+/aa co-transport, Na+/H+ exchanger
What are the mechanisms that effect Na+ reabsorption?
Tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism: ↑Na+ at macular densa @ DCT → ↑adenosine → afferent vasoconstriction → ↓GFR → ↓Na+ excretion
Glomerulotubular balance: more filtered = more reabsorbed
Humeral: aldosterone increases ENaC, ANP reduces ENaC, endothelin cause natriuresis
What mechanisms cause reduction in Na+ excretion
- reduced GFR
- increased tubular reabsorption: aldosterone, reduced ANP, angiotensin II
Following high Na+ intake, what mechanisms act to enhance Na+ excretion?
Slight increase in ECF volume triggers the activation of stretch receptors in RA and pulmonary veins (veno-atrial stretch receptors):
- inhibit sympathetic outflow to kidney, decreasing Na+ reabsorption
- increase in arterial pressure leads to pressure natriuresis
- release of ANP, suppressing RAAS, reduced ATII and therefore reduced aldosterone
- hypothalamus decreases the production of vasopressin