Structure and function of the renal tubule Flashcards
What is the difference between the glomerular filtrate and plasma composition?
No cells and very little protein in glomerular filtrate
Why is the composition of the plasma not the same as the urine?
Selective modification of filtrate as it passes through tubule
What is reabsorption equal to?
Reabsorption = tubular lumen → peritubular plasma
What is secretion equal to?
Secretion = peritubular plasma → tubular lumen
Where do substances move through to be reabsorbed/ secreted?
Through epithelial cell of the tubular lumen
Thriugh peritubular fluid
Through peritubular capillary
Vice versa for secretion into the tubular lumen
What 2 physiological processes are involved with secretion and reabsorption?
Active and passive transfer
Describe the premise of Active Transfer/Primary Active Transport
- Moving molecule/ion against conc gradient (low→high)
- Operates against an electrochemical gradient
- Requires energy - driven by ATP
Describe the premise of Passive Transfer
- Passive movement down a concentration gradient (requires suitable route)
- Active removal of one component concentrates other components
Describe the premise of Co-transport/Secondary Active Transport
- Movement of one substance down its concentration gradient generates energy Allows transport of another substance against its concentration gradient
- Requires carrier protein
- 2 types: symport and anti-port
What is symport and antiport transfer?
Symport = transported species move in the same direction e.g. Na+-glucose
Antiport = transported species move in opposite directions e.g Na+-H- antiport
Describe the combination of active and passive mechanisms for transcellular transport over luminal and basolateral membranes
- There is a high concentration os Na+ in tubule lumen (140mM) - this moves into the epithelial cells down a concentration gradient, aided by the electrochemical gradient.
- This generates energy so glucose can be transported against its concentration gradient into the epithelial cell, using a symport protein (SGLT2)
- Glucose is the transported down its concentration gradient from the epithelial cell into the PT capillary by a GLUT-2 transporter
- Sodium in the epithelial cell is actively pumped by a Na+/K+ pump int PT capillary - keeps Na+ low in epithelial cell
This is the transcellular mode of transport
Familial Renal Glycosuria is caused when you cannot produce SGLT2
SO SGLT2 inhibitors to treat diabetes – - Dapagliflozin (Europe) & Canagliflozin (USA)
- A symport also transports sodium and AA into epithelium via a symport protein, and an antiport transports sodium into epithelial cell and hydrogen ions out into tubule
- These sodium are actively transported into the capillary by a Na+/ K+ ATPase
What techniques investigate tubular function?
- Clearance studies
- Micropuncture & Isolated Perfused Tubule
- Electrophysiological Analysis
- Potential measurement
- Patch clamping
1 = applied to man
2 & 3 = applied to lab animals
What happens during a micropuncture? (how is it performed?)
- Puncture
- Inject viscous oil
- Inject fluid for study
- Sample and analyse
What happens during an electric potential measurement ( potential measurement)? (how is it performed?)
- Combine with microperfusion to alter potential difference (PD)
- Measure whether ion moving with or against an electrochemical gradient
- Actively transported?
What happens during patch clamping (how is it performed)?
- Current flow through individual ion channel measured
- Measure electrical resistance
- Across patch of cell membrane
- Changes when channels open/close - Types of channels & response to drugs & hormones