Questions and Answers
What is the main function of the alpha intercalated cell?
What is the relationship between the alpha and beta intercalated cells?
What is the condition of the blood in this scenario?
What is the location of the urine in relation to the alpha intercalated cell?
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What is the function of aldosterone in the principal cell?
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What is represented by the little protons drawn in the diagram?
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What is the function of the beta intercalated cell?
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What is the name of the blood vessel drawn in the diagram?
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What is the advantage of having acidic urine?
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What is the function of the first transporter mentioned in the text?
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What is the difference between the first and second transporters?
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What is the effect of aldosterone on the transporters?
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What is the purpose of the sodium potassium pumps in the alpha intercalated cell?
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What is the role of potassium in the third transporter?
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Why does the third transporter take energy?
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What is the key concept of the process described in the text?
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What happens when the cell becomes acidic?
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What is the purpose of the transporters in the alpha intercalated cell?
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What is the primary goal of the alpha intercalated cell in the context of blood pH regulation?
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What is the role of carbonic anhydrase in the alpha intercalated cell?
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What happens to the bicarbonate produced in the alpha intercalated cell?
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What is the net result of the process described in the alpha intercalated cell?
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What is the purpose of the chloride channel in the alpha intercalated cell?
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Why is aldosterone necessary in this process?
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What is the energy cost of using the transporters that remove protons from the cell?
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What is the ultimate fate of the protons removed from the cell through the action of aldosterone?
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What would happen if the alpha intercalated cell were unable to remove excess protons from the blood?
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What is the relationship between the number of protons removed from the blood and the number of protons that build up in the cell?
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Study Notes
Aldosterone's Role in Alpha Intercalated Cells
- Aldosterone works on two types of cells: principal cells and alpha intercalated cells
- Alpha intercalated cells have a main job of getting rid of protons (acid) from the blood
- Protons are represented by H+ ions
- Alpha intercalated cells work to neutralize acidic blood by removing excess protons
Process of Neutralizing Acidic Blood
- All cells produce CO2 and H2O as byproducts of breaking down sugar
- In alpha intercalated cells, an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase helps convert CO2 and H2O into protons (H+) and bicarbonate (HCO3-)
- Bicarbonate is transported out of the cell into the blood through a transporter on the basolateral surface
- In exchange for bicarbonate, the transporter takes in chloride ions
- Bicarbonate in the blood neutralizes excess protons, resulting in water and CO2, which can be exhaled through the lungs
Dealing with Excess Protons in the Cell
- For every proton removed from the blood, one proton builds up in the alpha intercalated cell
- Aldosterone helps remove excess protons from the cell through two transporters:
- One transporter uses energy (ATP) to drive protons out of the cell and into the urine
- The other transporter uses a sodium gradient to drive protons out of the cell and into the urine
- Both transporters are driven by aldosterone, allowing the cell to remove excess protons and maintain a healthy acid-base balance
Importance of Sodium-Potassium Gradient
- Alpha intercalated cells maintain a sodium-potassium gradient, with high potassium levels inside the cell and high sodium levels outside
- This gradient is maintained through sodium-potassium pumps on the basolateral surface
- The pumps drive potassium into the cell and sodium out of the cell, using energy (ATP)
- The gradient is essential for the proper functioning of the proton transporters, especially the one that uses a sodium gradient
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Description
Learn about the role of aldosterone on alpha intercalated cells and its effects on potassium and salt and water levels.