7. The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) is a key controller of blood pressure and sodium excretion. Explain:
a. What is the pathway by which aldosterone is made from Angiotensinogen? Include all relevant steps and enzymes in this pathway.
b. Angiotensin II can regulate blood pressure in two ways, directly and indirectly. What are those two general mechanisms how Ang II plays a role?
c. Aldosterone acts on a longer term basis than does ADH. How does Aldosterone regulate water and sodium retention in the kidney? (include a discussion of how aldosterone works in the kidney, especially its role in regulating gene expression, and what part of the kidney aldosterone acts).
d. How would you expect aldosterone production to be differently regulated in our experimental conditions (hypo-, iso-, and hyper-tonic)?