Drugs that treat hypertension, or high blood pressure, have the following actions. Discuss the specific effect that each drug will have on the kidneys.

a. Blocking the action of aldosterone on the kidneys

Video transcript

Hi, everyone. Let's take a look at this question together. Which of the following is not considered one of the effects of blocking aldosterone in the kidneys. Is it answer choice. A decreased sodium reabsorption. Answer choice B decreased potassium excretion. Answer choice C reduced water retention or answer choice. D none of the above. Let's work this problem out together to try to figure out which of the following answer choices is not an effect of blocking aldosterone in the kidneys. So, in order to solve this question, we have to recall what we have learned about the role of aldosterone in the kidneys. And what would be an effect of blocking aldosterone in the kidneys. And we can recall that blocking aldosterone in the kidneys would result in a decrease of sodium reabsorption as aldosterone promotes sodium reabsorption in the distal tubules and the collecting ducts of the kidneys as well as it would reduce water retention. Since aldosterone normally promotes water retention. So the decrease of sodium reabsorption and the reduction of water retention are all effects of blocking aldosterone as these processes are normally promoted by aldosterone. So, blocking aldosterone would result in that decrease of sodium reabsorption and that reduction of water retention. So looking at our answer choices, we can see decreased sodium reabsorption and reduced water retention, which are considered effects of blocking aldosterone in the kidneys. So answer choice A and answer choice C cannot be the correct answer. However, we see answer choice B which says decreased potassium excretion, which we know that decreased potassium excretion is not considered one of the effects of blocking aldosterone in the kidneys. As aldosterone stimulates the secretion of potassium into the urine in exchange for sodium reabsorption. So, blocking aldosterone would not result in a decrease of potassium excretion. As blocking aldosterone would result in a decrease of potassium excretion and not blocking aldosterone would result in that secretion of potassium into the urine in exchange for sodium reabsorption. So answer choice B is the only correct answer choice and all other answer choices are incorrect. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.