Essential Ion and Compound Balance and Homeostasis - Anatomy & Physiology

()Map THE NEPHRON (Map)

Sodium

It is very important to regulate the bodies sodium level. If it falls too low then water and ECF volumes also fall and sodium dependant transporters are also disturbed. If it rises too far the transport systems are still disturbed but body water and ECF volume increases. Sodium is therefore maintained within near constant parameters. With the amount being excreted/lost corresponding to that ingested. Salt intake is not really regulated and thus it falls to the kidneys to maintain salt levels via excretion.

Regulation

The total body content of sodium is regulated rather than the actual plasma concentration. It would be impossible to regulate actual plasma concentration for 3 reasons:

• When sodium is reabsorbed water follows it so the volume of the plasma is altered rather than the concentration of sodium changing
• Angiotensin 2 and Aldosterone affect sodium but they also affect ECF volume so only quantity affected not concentration
• ADH and thirst response also work together to dilute the ECF if concentrations of sodium is high so although there is more NaCl the actual concentration is not really changed.

The kidneys are the most important regulatory organs of sodium in the body. They adjust their excretion to match the amount taken in through the digestive tract taking into account the amount lost through sweat. The handling of sodium by the kidneys is also essential to allow the reabsorption of many other important nutrients which would otherwise be lost in the urine. These nutrients include glucose, amino acids, chloride, bicarbonate and phosphate. It is also exchanged for the likes of potassium and hydrogen ions to aid in their secretion. As a result sodium transport accounts for over 80% of the energy metabolism in the kidneys

Salt Hunger

The diet of a herbivore contains little sodium and as such an important aspect of their sodium homeostasis is the physiological salt appetite where the animal actually craves salt if it is deficient. This is especially apparent in sheep. By contrast carnivores have a very poorly developed physiological salt appetite probably because their salt intake tends to outstrip their requirement.

Potassium

Importance of Regulation

Decreased Extracellular Potassium

If the concentration of potassium in the ECF is reduced then the plasma membranes hyperpolarize resulting in decreased firing of action potentials. This causes skeletal muscle weakness and cardiac abnormalities.

Increased Extracellular Potassium

In this state the membrane is depolarised and is inappropriately triggered by action potentials. This can make the membrane insensitive to further stimulation causing cardiac abnormalities.

Sources

• Potassium is absorbed via passive diffusion from the small intestine
• Also via active transport from the colon
  • Affected by Aldosterone
• Highly efficient
• It's also recovered from cellular breakdown
  • Haemolysis
  • Tissue damage

Methods of Control

The K⁺ in the ECF only represents a very small amount of the total K⁺ in the body however its concentration is maintained within very strict parameters. The homeostasis of K⁺ is managed by three routes:

Cellular translocation

• Potassium is moved either into or out of the cells
• Acute response
• Main method of control

Renal excretion

• 90% of the chronic response
• Takes 4-6 hours to respond
• Allows fine control
• Influenced by Aldosterone

GI excretion

• • 10% of the chronic response
  • Also influenced by Aldosterone
  • Most important in renal failure

Cellular Translocation

• Vital for rapid control of potassium loads
• Helps control plasma concentration
• Moves potassium into the cell
• Stores potassium in skeletal muscle and liver
• Balances ECF and ICF
• Controlled by insulin and beta2 adrenoreceptors
  • Increases the activity of Na⁺ / K⁺ ATPases causing sodium efflux and potassium influx

Renal Control

• Potassium ions are reabsorbed and secreted at different points along the nephron
• Active reabsorption of potassium occurs along the proximal tubule (70%) and along the ascending limb of the Loop of Henle (10-20%)
• This results in there only being 10% of the original amount left in the distal tubule
• However net reabsorption / secretion of potassium occurs in the distal tubule and first part of collecting duct
  • Depends on bodies need
• Under the influence of Aldosterone
• This is where the amount of potassium excreted is determined
• Reabsorption occurs in the final part of the collecting duct

Potassium and Aldosterone

• Aldosterone is the most important regulator of potassium
• It causes increased secretion of potassium
• Increased potassium directly stimulates Aldosterone secretion
• Increases the activity and number of Na⁺ / K⁺ ATPase in basolateral membranes of the principal cells in the collecting duct and distal tubule
• Potassium moves into the cells and is then excreted down an electro-chemical gradient

Factors Influencing Potassium Excretion

Sodium

• High sodium = increased potassium excretion
  • More sodium into cells
  • Increased Na⁺ / K⁺ ATPase
  • Pumps sodium into peritubular renal interstitium
  • The resulting increased cellular uptake of potassium results in it moving down the electrochemical gradient into the nephron

Potassium

• High potassium = increased potassium excretion
• Triggers aldosterone

Acid-Base

• Potassium is exchanged for H⁺
• Hypokalaemia potassium to ECF and hydrogen to ICF
  • Results in alkalosis

Acidosis

• Potassium moves from ICF to ECF
• pH change of 0.1 leads to potassium change by 0.6mmol/l
• (rough guide)

Alkalosis

• Opposite effect
• Potassium moves from ECF to ICF

Calcium

Calcium Homeostasis has three aspects:

• Renal reabsorption - dealt with here
• Intestinal absorption
• Exchange processes from the bones

Urea

Urea and Foregut Fermenters

If species such as cows are fed a low nitrogen diet then a smaller portion of the filtered urea is excreted. Indicating that it is being transported to the fore stomach for processing into microbial protein. This allows the animal to survive longer on low protein diets

Protein in Feed and Urine Concentration

• If feed is high in protein then lots of urea is produced and the urine is more concentrated
• If feed is low in protein then less urea is produced and the urine is less concentrated