Explore how sodium-potassium pumps use ATP to maintain ion gradients, resting potential and recovery in neurons and muscle cells in IB Biology HL B2.1.15.
Hypertension (blood pressure exceeding 140 mmHg ) affects millions of people worldwide. Many modern societies consume more sodium in the form of salt (NaCl) than is required for normal physiology. The effect of changing the levels of dietary sodium has been studied in various organisms.
Scientists recorded the blood pressure changes in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) fed a diet without added sodium (control) or a sodium supplemented diet (experimental) as follows
- 5 grams of salt per day from December 1991 until May 1992
- 10 grams of salt per day until June 1992
- 15 grams of salt per day until August 1993
after which no more salt was added to the diet until the experiment ended.
Suggest how sodium-potassium pumps in the membranes of nephron cells in the kidney could allow blood sodium concentrations to be reduced, if there is sufficient potassium in the diet.