Question

Elevated potassium levels in the body (hyperkalemia) is a serious condition, resulting in a severely decreased ability for muscle fibers and neurons to reploarize. The adrenal cortex can respond to this. However, very high osmolarity shuts down this response. Explain this incongruity, by describing the response mechanism of the adrenal cortex.

Answer 1

The renin-aldosterone system contributes to the regulation of arterial pressure and to the maintenance of sodium and potassium balance. Alterations in plasma potassium concentration have opposite and independent effects on renin secretion by the kidney and on aldosterone secretion by the adrenal gland. Renin secretion tends to be inhibited by hyperkalemia and stimulated by potassium depletion. In contrast, increases of plasma potassium directly stimulate aldosterone secretion. This effect of potassium on aldosterone serves as a protective mechanism against the development of hyperkalemia. Conversely, hypokalemia inhibits aldosterone production. Small changes in plasma potassium have a greater effect on aldosterone than on renin secretion.

During potassium balancing exess potassium is excreated along with Na reabsorption.at perticular level sodium absorption is stopped thus pottasium excretion