Distal convoluted tubule

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Distal convoluted tubule
Kidney nephron (labeled as "2nd convoluted tubule", near top)
Section of cortex of human kidney.
Latin tubulus contortus distalis
Gray's subject #253 1223
Precursor Metanephric blastema
MeSH Distal+Kidney+Tubule
Dorlands/Elsevier t_22/12830066

The distal convoluted tubule (DCT) is a portion of kidney nephron between the loop of Henle and the collecting duct system.

Contents

[edit] Physiology

It is partly responsible for the regulation of potassium, sodium, calcium, and pH.

  • Sodium and potassium levels are controlled by secreting K+ and absorbing Na+. Sodium absorption by the distal tubule is mediated by the hormone aldosterone. Aldosterone increases sodium reabsorption. Sodium and chlorine (salt) reabsorption is also mediated by a group of kinases called WNK kinases. There are 4 different WNK kinases, WNK1, WNK2, WNK3, and WNK4.

[edit] Clinical significance

Thiazide diuretics inhibit Na+/Cl- reabsorption from the DCT by blocking the thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter.

[edit] Histology

Histologically, cells of the DCT can be differentiated from cells of the proximal convoluted tubule:

Characteristic PCT DCT
apical brush border? usually have do not have
eosinophilicity? more less
cytoplasm? more less
have visible nuclei? less likely more likely

[edit] Additional images

1 Glomerulus, 2 proximal tubule, 3 distal tubule

Transverse section of pyramidal substance of kidney of pig, the bloodvessels of which are injected.

[edit] References

  1. ^ MedEd at Loyola mech/cases/case24/kidney.htm

[edit] External links



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