Regulation of Ca and PO4 Metabolism Flashcards
Describe the distribution of Ca in the body
ECF - .1%
Plasma - .5% or less
ICF - 1%
Bones and teeth - 99%
What is the biologically active form of Ca? What percentage does this Ca make of the total amount of Ca in the body?
Free, ionized Ca - 50%
Protein-bound - 40%
Complexed to anions - 10%
What is the normal Ca levels for adult pts?
in the 9’s mg/dl
What are the symptoms and signs for hypocalcemia?
Symptoms: hyperreflexia, spontaneous twitching, muscle cramp, tingling and numbness
Chvostek sign: twitching of facial mm when facial n tapped
Trousseau sign: carpopedal spasm upton inflation of blood pressure cuff
What are the symptoms of hypercalcemia?
Decreased QT intervals, constipation, lack of appetite, polyuria, polydipsia, muscle weakness, hyporeflexia, lethargy, coma
How does hypocalcemia influence membrane excitability?
Reduces activation threshold for Na channels-> easier to evoke AP Increase membrane excitability Spontaneous AP: hypocalcemia tetany Tingling and numbness on sensory neurons Mm twitches on motorneurons and m
How does hypercalcemia influence membrane excitability?
Nervous system becomes depressed and reflex responses are slowed
Decrease excitability
How can the forms of Ca in the plasma be altered?
- change plasma protein concentration: Increase protein = increase total Ca concentration (no change in Ca ionized)
- Changes in [anion]: Increase PO4, decrease ionized [Ca]
- acid-base abnormalities: more H+, increase free ionized [Ca]
How does acidemia cause increase in free ionized Ca?
H+ outcompetes for spots on albumin, thus less Ca is bound to albumin
What levels of Ca often accompanies alkalemia?
hypocalcemia
Calcium homeostasis is tightly regulated and involves the coordinated actions of what?
3 organ systems: bone, kidney and intestine
3 hormones: PTH, Calcitonin, Vit D
During homeostasis, describe bone remodeling
no net gain or loss of Ca
new bone is formed (deposited)
old bone is resorbed
To maintain Ca balance, how much Ca must the kidneys excrete?
same amount of Ca that is absorbed by GI tract
What hormones promote increase in extracellular Ca levels? Where do they act?
Vit D: in intestines to absorb
Vit D and PTH: on bone to resorb
PTH: on kidneys to reabsorb
Describe the relationship of Phosphate with Ca
Critical for biological processes
Component of ATP, second messenger molecules, DNA, RNA, and Phospholipids
Intracellular anion
Involved in activation and deactivation of enzymes
Buffer in bone, serum, and urine
Describe the distribution of Pi in the body
Bone - 85%
plasma - less than 1% (85%: ionized, 10% protein bound, 6% complexed to cations)
ICF - 15%
What is extracellular concentration of Pi regulated by?
same hormones that regulate Ca concentration
*Extracellular [Pi] inversely related to that of Ca
What secretes PTH?
Chief cells of parathyroid glands that are posterior on the thyroid
What happens to levels of Ca stored as the body ages?
There are decreases in amount of Ca absorbed from dietary intake, and in dietary intake of Ca
Existing bone cells reabsorbed by the body faster than new bone is made
Aging contributes to osteopenia or osteoporosis
describe the structure and synthesis of PTH
Peptide hormone - single-chain with 84 a.a.
Synthesized on ribosomes as preproPTH: 115 aa
cleaved to proPTH: 90 aa
Transported to golgi and cleaved to form PTH
Packaged
What is the stimulus for PTH secretion?
low plasma Ca
*increase in EC [Ca] inhibits PTH synthesis and secretion thru Gq and Gi pathways
What does chronic hypercalcemia cause?
Decrease in synthesis and storage of PTH
Increase breakdown of stored PTH and release of inactive PTH fragment into circulation
What does chronic hypocalemia cause?
increase in synthesis and storage of PTH, hyperplasia of parathyroid glands (secondary hyperparathyroidism)
What role does Mg have on PTH?
parallel but less significant effects on PTH secretion
In alcoholism, hypoMg inhibits PTH synthesis, storage and secretion
What are the actions of PTH on bone, kidney and intestine?
Bone resorption
Kidney: decrease reabsorption of Pi, increase Ca reabsorption, Increase urinary cAMP
Intestine: Ca absorption via vit D
How does Vit D promote mineralization of new bone?
Increase both Ca and Pi plasma concentrations
Increase Ca x Pi product to promote mineralization
What is the main circulating form of Vit D?
25-OH-cholecalciferol
Describe the Vit D synthesis process
7-dehydrocholesterol -> cholecalciferol with UV light
Cholecalciferol from diet
->25-OH cholecalciferol in liver via 25-hydroxylase
Activated in renal proximal tubule via 1a-hydroxylase if [Ca] and [PO4] is low and PTH is high (Gs pathway for enzyme activation)
What is the active form of Vit D?
1,25 -(OH) cholecalciferol
What is the gene for 1a-hydroxylase?
CYP1a gene