Question

Question 20 Keshav has finished his exams and is at the pub with his friends drinking a few beers. Alcohol inhibits ADH.

A. Explain the effect inhibition of ADH will have on urine production?

B. Explain what effect inhibition of ADH will have on blood pressure

C. Differentiate between facultative and obligatory water reabsorption. Which will be affected while Keshav is drinking?

Answer 1

Alcohol: A beverage containing Ethanol is called Alcohol

Beer: An alcoholic drink fermented from starch material commonly barley malt, often with hops or some other Substances to impart bitter flavour.

A. Inhibition of ADH and urine production

ADH is the Anti diuretic Hormone secreted by posterior pituitary , have an action against diuresis in the body, that reduces the urine production from the body. ADH has a role of regulating and balancing the amount of water in the blood by conserving the water in the kidneys.

Alcohol consumption reduces the ADH or inhibits the ADH production from Pituitary, as the Osmolality of the blood disturbs, there will be more fluid than particles ( solvent more than solutes). When ADH concentration in blood decreases, it automatically leads to diuresis or increased urine production from the body.

B. Inhibition of ADH and Blood pressure

Anti diuretic Hormone also known as Vasopressin . It has  the action of reducing the diuresis there by conserving more water in the blood. When the fluid volume in the blood increases, blood pressure also may increase. ADH ( Vasopressin) also has another action to constrict or narrow the blood vessels, resulting in increased Blood pressure.  

Inhibition of ADH may cause increased urination and fluid level in the blood may decrease and may cause dehydration also. This inturn reduces the Blood pressure. There may be temporary decrease in Blood pressure. But drinking habits make the body vulnerable to High blood pressure by altering the body's chemical and hormonal regulations and damage impose to the blood vessels.

C.

Facultative and Obligatory water reabsorption

Obligatory Reabsorption of water refers to the water reabsorption occuring in the first part of nephrons of Kidney and it is not depending on Patient's state of hydration or on ADH.

Facultative reabsorption of water refers to the reabsorption of water that occuring in the distal tubules and collecting duct of nephrons and it is influenced by body's hydration state or with the influence of ADH.

Keshav's drinking affect the Facultative reabsorption of water from nephrons . That can cause dehydration in the individual. ( the case scenario given shortly in the question, the whole description is not there in the question. )