Aldosterone and Alpha Intercalated Cells

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Questions and Answers

What is the main function of the alpha intercalated cell?

To get rid of protons (correct)
To remove excess potassium
To secrete protons
To reabsorb sodium and water

What is the relationship between the alpha and beta intercalated cells?

They perform the same function
The alpha cell helps the beta cell
The beta cell does the opposite of the alpha cell (correct)
They are found in different parts of the kidney

What is the condition of the blood in this scenario?

Too acidic (correct)
Too alkaline
Neutral
Optimal pH

What is the location of the urine in relation to the alpha intercalated cell?

On the apical surface (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of aldosterone in the principal cell?

To reabsorb sodium and water, and secrete potassium (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is represented by the little protons drawn in the diagram?

Acid (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the beta intercalated cell?

To hold onto acid (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the blood vessel drawn in the diagram?

Peritubular capillary (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the advantage of having acidic urine?

It prevents the blood from becoming acidic (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the first transporter mentioned in the text?

To remove protons from the cell (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between the first and second transporters?

The first one takes energy, while the second one does not (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of aldosterone on the transporters?

It revs up the transporters (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the sodium potassium pumps in the alpha intercalated cell?

To maintain the sodium potassium gradient (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of potassium in the third transporter?

It comes back into the cell along with the proton (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why does the third transporter take energy?

Because potassium doesn't want to be in the cell (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the key concept of the process described in the text?

Getting rid of acid from the blood (B) Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the cell becomes acidic?

The cell becomes a bag of acid (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the transporters in the alpha intercalated cell?

To get rid of protons from the cell (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the alpha intercalated cell in the context of blood pH regulation?

To remove excess protons from the blood (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of carbonic anhydrase in the alpha intercalated cell?

To form protons and bicarbonate from carbon dioxide and water (A) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the bicarbonate produced in the alpha intercalated cell?

It is transported into the blood to neutralize protons (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the net result of the process described in the alpha intercalated cell?

The removal of a proton from the blood (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the chloride channel in the alpha intercalated cell?

To allow chloride ions to leave the cell (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why is aldosterone necessary in this process?

To remove excess protons from the cell (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the energy cost of using the transporters that remove protons from the cell?

A significant amount of ATP is required (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate fate of the protons removed from the cell through the action of aldosterone?

They are excreted in the urine (B) Signup and view all the answers

What would happen if the alpha intercalated cell were unable to remove excess protons from the blood?

The blood would become more acidic (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the number of protons removed from the blood and the number of protons that build up in the cell?

One proton builds up in the cell for every proton that is removed from the blood (C) Signup and view all the answers

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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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