What effect does the hormone aldosterone have on the pH of blood plasma?

Answer 1

Short answer: In the kidney, aldosterone increases sodium retention, which increases potassium excretion, which increases H+ excretion, so aldosterone will tend to raise blood pH.

Explanation:

Aldosterone directly increases sodium retention in the kidney. ?Since all kidney cells have basolaterally located Na+/K+ ATPases, this will cause these exchangers to go into overdrive and dump more K+ into the cells. ?For those cells that have K+ channels, this will increase potassium excretion.

Finally, certain cells in your collecting ducts have H+/K+ exchangers (either the alpha or beta intercalated cells). ?So if you have more K+ in the lumen, this will cause these exchangers to kick into overdrive and dump H+ into the lumen, which finally raises blood pH.

Answer 2

Aldosterone does not directly impact the pH of blood plasma. Its primary role is to regulate electrolyte levels, specifically sodium and potassium, in the body by acting on the kidneys. This helps to maintain water balance and blood pressure, but does not directly affect pH levels.