Renal Physiology (Day 2) Flashcards
Clearance
- Volume of plasma from which a given substance is cleared by the kidneys per unit time
- Every substance in blood has own distinct clearance value; units expressed as volume of plasma per unit time (ex. mL/min or L/day)
The concept of clearance can be used to calculate GFR, assuming one uses a substance that is: (three things)
- Freely filterable at the glomerulus (so that its concentration in glomerular filtrate is the same as in plasma
- Not secreted by the tubules
- Not reabsorbed by the tubules
–> Such a substance is the polysaccharide, inulin
Use of clearance of inulin to calculate GFR:
If mass excreted/time = mass filtered/time then, GFP = Conc(inulin) = (U(inulin))(V)/P(inulin)
- Infuse inulin into a subject such that it’s plasma concentration is 4 mg/mL
- Collect urine for 2 hours, collected 0.2 L
- Measure urine inulin concentration: 360 mg/mL
Clearance equation
clearance of a substance x = (mass of x in urine)(urine vol/time) / plasma conc. of x
Cx = (Ux)(V) / Px
–> Sample: C(urea) = (18.2mg/mL)(1mL/min) / .26mg/mL = 70mL/min
If inulin were secreted, would the calculated GFR be higher or lower than the true GFR?
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Glucose is freely filtered at the glomerulus, but it is also totally reabsorbed int he proximal tubules and returned to the plasma. What is the clearance of glucose?
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Reabsorption
Recall: GFR = 180 L / day.
Total body water = 40L.
–> Thus almost all of that 180 L (99%) must be returned to the circulation via reabsorption in tubular epithelium –filtration is nonselective (except for protein); reabsorption is highly selective
-low hydrostatic pressure in peritubular capillaries
What is reabsorbed?
- water
- electrolytes (ions): Na+, K+, Cl-, HCO3-, H+, Ca2+, PO43-
- small organic molecules: glucose, amino acids, etc.
What is the general pathway for reabsorption?
Tubule –> Epithelial Cells –> Interstitium –> Peritubular Capillaries
Tubular Reabsorption limitations
Tubular reabsorption of some substances cannot be physiologically controlled.
Ex. glucose filtered = 180 g/day, glucose excreted = 0 g/day
- tubular capacity for reabsorption of glucose –> GFR, so reabsorption of glucose is always maximal
- therefore, reabsorption of glucose is not adjusted/altered
Reabsorption of H2O and Na
In contrast, reabsorption of H2O and Na+ can be altered under normal conditions
Example: ingested water will be excreted into urine within a few hours
-Therefore, there is a control mechanism which acts to maintain plasma water within fairly narrow limits
Reabsorption: Epithelial Transport
a.k.a. trancellular transport
substances cross apical and basolateral membranes of the tubule epithelial cells
Reabsorption: Paracellular Pathway
Substances pass through the cell-cell junction between two adjacent cells
Reabsorption: Na Cotransport
-primarily glucose, but amino acids, other organic metabolites and some ions such as phosphate are also absorbed by Na+-dependent cotransport.
- Na moving down it’s electrochemical gradient uses the SGLT protein to pull glucose into the cell against it’s concentration gradient
- Glucose diffuses out the basolateral side of the cell using the GLUT protein
Reabsorption of Glucose
Glucose/Na+ cotransporters have a transport maximum (Tm).
- If there is too much glucose in the filtrate, it will not be completely reabsorbed because all the carriers are in use (saturated).
- Extra glucose spills over into the urine = glycosuria and is a sign of diabetes mellitus.
- Extra glucose in the blood also results in decreased water reabsorption and possible dehydration.