In: Biology
The drug hydrochlorothiazide inhibits sodium reabsorption in the distal tubule.
A.How will this drug affect urine volume? Justify your response.
B.How will this drug affect blood osmolarity? Justify your response.
Ans-A) The drug hydrochlorothiazide inhibits the reabsorption of sodium and thus increases the urine volume. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic which reduces the amount of water in the body by increasing the urine output. When the reabsorption of sodium is inhibited, then along with the excretion of sodium , a large amount of water is also excreted. Because sodium is known to cause water retention in the body. Thus, this drug increases the urine volume.
Ans-B) The drug hydrochlorothiazide causes hyponatremia. This condition is caused when there is very less amount of sodium in the blood. The lesser amount of sodium in the blood leads to reduced blood osmolarity. As higher blood osmolarity refers to the increased concentration of solutes or other substances in the blood (in this case, it is sodium). Since, the diuretic drug increases sodium excretion, it reduces the osmolarity of the blood by decreasing the amount of sodium in the blood.