which of thew following hormones is important in stimulating water conservation in the kidneys?
a) atrial natiuretic peptide
b) thymosin
c) aldosterone
d) antidiuretic hormone
c
The hormone that is important in stimulating water conservation in the kidneys is aldosterone. To arrive at this answer, let's go through each option:
a) Atrial natiuretic peptide (ANP) is a hormone that actually promotes water loss in the kidneys. It works by increasing urinary excretion of sodium and water, therefore inhibiting water conservation.
b) Thymosin is a hormone involved in the maturation of T cells of the immune system and has no direct role in stimulating water conservation in the kidneys.
c) Aldosterone is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Its main function is to regulate sodium and potassium levels in the body, which indirectly affects water conservation in the kidneys. Aldosterone promotes the reabsorption of sodium from the tubules of the kidneys, leading to water conservation as water follows the reabsorbed sodium.
d) Antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin, is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. It plays a crucial role in water conservation. ADH acts on the kidneys, specifically on the collecting ducts, to increase their permeability to water. This allows more water to be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream, reducing urine production and promoting water conservation.
Therefore, the correct answer is c) aldosterone.