Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid hormone

This hormone is essential to life because it regulates the amounts of electrolytes in the
body.
Is secreted by the adrenal cortex and responsible for the reabsorption of sodium into the
bloodstream
Aldosterone also stimulates the excretion of potassium
Adrenal cortex is part of the adrenal gland
Aldosterone simultaneously regulates sodium and potassium levels
Helping to maintain both blood pressure and body fluids
If aldosterone levels in the body are out of sync, symptoms can result
High levels of aldosterone can cause high blood pressure, muscle cramps and weakness
Low levels may indicate disease such as diabetes or Addisons disease
Often, aldosterone levels vary between the sexes and may be affected by the amount of
sodium in a persons diet
Women have higher levels of aldosterone when pregnant
The hormone renin which is produced by the kidney helps to regulate the release of
aldosterone and renin levels are often compared with aldosterone levels for diagnostic
purposes
An aldosterone test may be performed to determine the cause of high or low blood
potassium or of certain conditions such as heart failure or kidney disease
How is adrenal insufficiency treated?
Treatment of adrenal insufficiency involves replacing or substituting, the hormones that the
adrenal glands are not making
Cortisol is replaced with a synthetic glucocorticoid such as hydrocortisone, prednisone or
dexamethasone, taken orally once to three time each day, depending on which medication
is chosen.

If aldosterone is also deficient it is replaced with oral doses of a mineralocorticoid called
fludrocortisone acetate taken once or twice a day ( FLORINEF)
Doctors usually advise patients receiving aldosterone replacement therapy to increase their
salt intake
Because people with secondary adrenal insufficiency normally maintain aldosterone
production they do not require aldosterone replacement therapy.
During an addisonian crisis, low blood pressure, low blood glucose, and high levels of
potassium can be life threatening
Standard therapy involves intravenous injections of glucorticoids and large volumes of
intravenous saline solution with dextrose a type off sugar
This treatment usually bings rapid improvement
When the patient can take fluids and medications by mouth, the amount of glucocorticoids
is decreases until a maintenance dose is reached
If aldosterone is deficient, maintenance therapy also includes oral doses of fludrocortisone
acetate.


Enantiostasis
Maintenance of metabolic and physiological functions in response to changes in the
environment e.g. estuary
Osmoronformers: alters the conc. Of internal solutions to match the external environment
Osmoregulators: Keep the internal conc. same despite the external changes.


Osmoconformers Osmoregulators
Modify salt concentration in their body p.g.95 they maintain a constant salt
concentration in their bodies despite
environment fluctuations. Their cell imitation


Describe the structural and physiological adaptation of animals that live in the desert environment
compare to animal live in fresh water
Longer tubule to have a longer time to conserve more water internally

Marine
Have water-retaining salt therefore drink water constantly
Tubules are comparatively shorter than desert animals

Halophytes ( salt lovers)
- group of plants that are found in extremely salty environment
- e.g. grey mangroves- excrete salt to the leaves , leaves drop off , root system: actively
pump out salt and absorb water.

Examples of THINGO

Questions on 102


2. Explain why it is essential to remove carbon dioxide and the nitrogenous aste ammonia from
cells
3. Identify three reason why it is essential to maintain the water concentration in living
organisms.
4. Explain why energy is requires for the reabsorption of glucose and amino acids in nephrons.