NURS 6501: MIDTERM EXAM:
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Oxygen depletion soon leads to cellular swelling because of:
Group of answer choices
- Decreased sodium-potassium-ATPase activity
- Increased mitochondrial ATP production
- Elevated potassium influx
- Enhanced protein synthesis
The correct answer is:
Decreased sodium-potassium-ATPase activity.
Explanation:
Oxygen depletion (hypoxia) leads to cellular swelling primarily because of a
decrease in sodium-potassium-ATPase activity. This enzyme is responsible for pumping sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions into the cell, maintaining the proper ionic balance and osmotic pressure inside the cell.
When oxygen levels are low, cellular respiration is impaired, which reduces ATP production. ATP is required for the sodium-potassium-ATPase pump to function properly. Without sufficient ATP, the pump fails, leading to a buildup of sodium ions inside the cell. This increase in intracellular sodium attracts water, causing the cell to swell.
The other options are not directly responsible for cellular swelling in hypoxia:
- Increased mitochondrial ATP production: In hypoxic conditions, mitochondrial ATP production is actually reduced, not increased.
- Elevated potassium influx: Potassium typically moves into the cell in response to a variety of factors, but it does not directly cause cellular swelling in hypoxia.
- Enhanced protein synthesis: Protein synthesis requires ATP, and in hypoxic conditions, protein synthesis would be reduced rather than enhanced.
Thus,
decreased sodium-potassium-ATPase activity due to lack of ATP is the primary cause of cellular swelling during oxygen depletion.
